Sempervivum tectorum
Encyclopedia
Sempervivum tectorum is a succulent evergreen perennial whose many common names include Common houseleek,
Jove's beard, Jupiter's eye, Thor's beard, St. George's Beard, and
Welcome-home-husband-though-never-so-drunk—it sometimes shares the last of these names with Sedum acre
. It may also be called, generically, sedum
or stonecrop. Another name it shares with a variety of related species is hen and chicks
.
It is used as an ornamental plant
. The succulent evergreen leaves form a basal rosette; they can be green, red, purple or yellow. The flowers, which appear on branched stalks, can be purple, red or pink depending on the cultivar.
Flora of North America
describes S. tectorum as a perennial herb with a basal rosette
of succulent sessile leaves 4–10 cm in diameter. Flowers occur in multiples of 8–16 on erect flat-topped stalks. They note, however, that the species is "highly variable," in part because "hundreds of cultivars have been propagated, sold, and traded for nearly 200 years."
, notably the Latin barba Jovis (Jupiter's beard), referred to in the Floridus traditionally attributed to Aemilius Macer
, and its French derivative joubarbe, which has in turn given rise to jubard and jo-barb in English; or with the Norse thunder-god Thor
as in German Donnerbart. It is also called simply thunder-plant. Anglo-Saxon þunorwyrt may have either meaning. However, the association with Jupiter has also been derived from a resemblance between the flowers and the god's beard; in modern times, it has also been called St. George's beard.
Other common names, such as Anglo-Saxon singrēne, Modern English sigrim, sil-green, etc. and aye-green, refer to its longevity. William Fernie tells a tale in support of this:
It has been believed to protect more generally against decay and against witchcraft. Jacob Grimm
quotes a Provencal troubadour
: "e daquel erba tenon pro li vilan sobra lur maiso" — "and that plant they keep against evil atop their house." In his Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperii, Charlemagne
recommended it be grown on top of houses. In some places, S. tectorum is still traditionally grown on the roofs of houses.
The juice has been used in herbal medicine as an astringent and treatment for skin and eye diseases, including by Galen
and Dioscorides, to ease inflammation and, mixed with honey, to treat thrush
; however, large doses have an emetic effect. Pliny
also mentions it, and Marcellus Empiricus
listed it as a component in external treatments for contusions, nervous disorders, intestinal problems and abdominal pain, and mixed with honey, as part of the antidotum Hadriani (Hadrian's antidote), a broad-spectrum palliative for internal complaints.
Romans grew the plant in containers in front of windows and associated it with love medicine.
Jove's beard, Jupiter's eye, Thor's beard, St. George's Beard, and
Welcome-home-husband-though-never-so-drunk—it sometimes shares the last of these names with Sedum acre
Sedum acre
Sedum acre, commonly known as the Goldmoss Stonecrop, Goldmoss Sedum, Biting Stonecrop, Wallpepper, and the picturesque name Welcome home husband though never so drunk, is a perennial plant native to Europe, but also naturalised in North America. This plant grows as a creeping ground cover, often...
. It may also be called, generically, sedum
Sedum
Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. It contains around 400 species of leaf succulents that are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, varying from annual and creeping herbs to shrubs. The plants have...
or stonecrop. Another name it shares with a variety of related species is hen and chicks
Hen and chicks
thumb|right|240px| Jovibarba globifera showing larger mother plants and smaller, globe-shaped [[offsets]] .thumb|right|240px| Sempervivum tectorum...
.
It is used as an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
. The succulent evergreen leaves form a basal rosette; they can be green, red, purple or yellow. The flowers, which appear on branched stalks, can be purple, red or pink depending on the cultivar.
Description
Sempervivum tectorum was described in 1753 by Linnaeus, who noted that its leaves are fleshy, evergreen, and cilate, that is, fringed with hairs.Flora of North America
Flora of North America
The Flora of North America North of Mexico is a multivolume work describing the native plants of North America. These days much of the Flora is available . The work is expected to fill 30 volumes when completed...
describes S. tectorum as a perennial herb with a basal rosette
Rosette (botany)
In botany, a rosette is a circular arrangement of leaves, with all the leaves at a single height.Though rosettes usually sit near the soil, their structure is an example of a modified stem.-Function:...
of succulent sessile leaves 4–10 cm in diameter. Flowers occur in multiples of 8–16 on erect flat-topped stalks. They note, however, that the species is "highly variable," in part because "hundreds of cultivars have been propagated, sold, and traded for nearly 200 years."
Folklore and herbalism
The plant has been traditionally thought to protect against thunderstorms, and grown on house roofs for that reason, which is why it is called House Leek. Many of its popular names in different languages reflect an association with the Roman thunder-god JupiterJupiter (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter or Jove is the king of the gods, and the god of the sky and thunder. He is the equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon....
, notably the Latin barba Jovis (Jupiter's beard), referred to in the Floridus traditionally attributed to Aemilius Macer
Aemilius Macer
Aemilius Macer of Verona was a Roman didactic poet. He authored two poems, one on birds and the other on the antidotes against the poison of serpents , which he imitated from the Greek poet Nicander of Colophon. According to Jerome, he died in 16 BC. It is possible that he wrote also a botanical...
, and its French derivative joubarbe, which has in turn given rise to jubard and jo-barb in English; or with the Norse thunder-god Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
as in German Donnerbart. It is also called simply thunder-plant. Anglo-Saxon þunorwyrt may have either meaning. However, the association with Jupiter has also been derived from a resemblance between the flowers and the god's beard; in modern times, it has also been called St. George's beard.
Other common names, such as Anglo-Saxon singrēne, Modern English sigrim, sil-green, etc. and aye-green, refer to its longevity. William Fernie tells a tale in support of this:
It has been believed to protect more generally against decay and against witchcraft. Jacob Grimm
Jacob Grimm
Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm was a German philologist, jurist and mythologist. He is best known as the discoverer of Grimm's Law, the author of the monumental Deutsches Wörterbuch, the author of Deutsche Mythologie and, more popularly, as one of the Brothers Grimm, as the editor of Grimm's Fairy...
quotes a Provencal troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
: "e daquel erba tenon pro li vilan sobra lur maiso" — "and that plant they keep against evil atop their house." In his Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperii, Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
recommended it be grown on top of houses. In some places, S. tectorum is still traditionally grown on the roofs of houses.
The juice has been used in herbal medicine as an astringent and treatment for skin and eye diseases, including by Galen
Galen
Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus , better known as Galen of Pergamon , was a prominent Roman physician, surgeon and philosopher...
and Dioscorides, to ease inflammation and, mixed with honey, to treat thrush
Oral candidiasis
Oral candidiasis is an infection of yeast fungi of the genus Candida on the mucous membranes of the mouth. It is frequently caused by Candida albicans, or less commonly by Candida glabrata or Candida tropicalis...
; however, large doses have an emetic effect. Pliny
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
also mentions it, and Marcellus Empiricus
Marcellus Empiricus
Marcellus Empiricus, also known as Marcellus Burdigalensis , was a Latin medical writer from Gaul at the turn of the 4th and 5th centuries. His only extant work is the De medicamentis, a compendium of pharmacological preparations drawing on the work of multiple medical and scientific writers as...
listed it as a component in external treatments for contusions, nervous disorders, intestinal problems and abdominal pain, and mixed with honey, as part of the antidotum Hadriani (Hadrian's antidote), a broad-spectrum palliative for internal complaints.
Romans grew the plant in containers in front of windows and associated it with love medicine.