Orpine

 

Orpine (Sedum telephium) is a succulent plant found in woods and hedges in most parts of Britain. Its flowers bring a rose-red flush to many woodlands in late summer and early autumn.

The stems and leaves of orpine store water, enabling it to survive prolonged drought and withstand being picked. This power of resistance is illustrated by an old country custom by which a girl who wanted to get married would hang a pair of orpine stems side-by-side in her house. If they grew together she would be happy with her chosen husband, but if they grew apart the outlook was bleak. If one of the stems withered quickly – which was unlikely – a death was in prospect.

Orpine also appears to have worked as a fly repellent!

Orpine grows to a height of 8-24 inches (20-60 cm). The clusters of upright, unbranched stems are often reddish. The pale green leaves, which are fleshy, alternate up the stem. The flowers, which appear from July to September, are rosy-red and are borne on long stalks in globe-shaped heads. The fruit is purple and does not spread out when ripe.

The name derives from ‘orpiment’, an Old French name for ‘a golden pigment’, although orpine has no gold about it. The name was originally given to a yellow-flowered plant of the same genus, but after translation was given to a plant that was wrongly believed to be the same species.

© John Welford