Atropurpureum

The plant was first mentioned by Henry von Correvon in 1929 in his book „Les Joubarbes".

So this makes it one of the very first Sempervivum cultivars.

Plant, a form of S. tectorum, comes form Jura mountains in Switzerland.

Rosettes are 5 to 8 cm in diamether and very dark red in summer - so dark that they appear to be almost black. One year old rosette has not reached it's full summer colour, the colour seems to develop with age, so be patient!

So, is it a cultivar or a clone which was originally collected in nature?

It is posted in "S. cultivars starting with an A" - therefore we are talking about a cultivar of S. tectorum here.

The origin is unknown.

Renata, thank you very much again! This one remains interesting to me because if its historical value. I hope you don't mind that I put my questions on the forum, like this it is easier to find them again later, if needed.

I was a bit confused because of the sentence "comes from Jura mountains", which I read like "it was first collected in Jura mountains" ... Now it is all clear.

Should this be labelled as Sempervivum tectorum 'Atropurpureum' or Sempervivum 'Atropurpureum', or are both correct? Fernwood have it labelled as the latter.

Since this is a cultivar - on my opinion - the only correct label would be

Sempervivum tectorum cv. Atropurpureum

or

Sempervivum cv. Atropurpureum

but I would certainly like to read other members' opinion on this matter - how to label a cultivar.

There is a big mess on labeling cultivars and people use various names, like

S. tectorum cv. Atropurpureum

S. tectorum "Atropurpureum"

S. tectorum 'Atropurpureum?

S. cv. Atropurpureum

S. "Atropurpureum"

S. 'Atropurpureum'
but most often just Atropurpureum ...

Since we can be pretty sure that no Jovibarba is mixed in, the genus Sempervivum is correct.

Then it depends: are the ancestors only various forms of the species S. tectorum, then I would label it as Sempervivum tectorum "Atropurpureum".

When it is possible that also other species are hybridised (like with the majority of modern cultivars), then I would label it as Sempervivum "Atropurpureum"

The mark "cv" and putting the name between brackets is equal. Just a matter of choise as both indicate a cultivated variety, and not a wild plant. Starting "Atropurpureum" with a capital letter is also correct for cultivars, I have to check if it should be written in italics, but I think not (scientific names of plant families, genera and species are written in italics).

In case of uncertain origin (maybe several species hybridised, or maybe varieties of just one species), i would still use the second option Sempervivum "Atropurpureum"

In this way there is a clear distinction between plants for which it is sure that they are (varieties and cultivars of) a pure species and plants which (possibly) are hybrids.

Note that the International Code for Botanical Nomenclature sets specific rules for writing names of cultivars. I don't know all these rules by head, sorry, i am zoologist (And the Code for animals DIFFERS from the one for plants.)

Today Elliot uploaded some wonderful photos.

My first reaction was - the photos are sooooo good that's impossible to be made by teenager! Yet the are. Elliot, I deeply apologize once again for having doubts in you!

And - thanks for posting those wonderful photos! I guess other members will enjoy them, too. As for Marko, do visit his flick page, the photos of carnivorus plants are .... heavenly beautiful!

Thanks Renata, happy to help.

I agree, your plants and photos are very beautiful!
Elliot, thanks for sharing them.

(And thank you Renata )