Sempervivum tectorum

Sempervivum tectorum

The common houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum L., 1753) is a succulent plant belonging to the Crassulaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Subarign Tracheobionta,
Spermatophyta superdivision,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Subclass Rosidae,
Rosales Order,
Crassulaceae family,
Genus Sempervivum,
S. tectorum species.
This species has been classified over time with various names; the following are the main synonyms:
– Sedum tectorum Scop.;
– Sempervivum acuminatum Schott;
– Sempervivum alpinum Griseb. & Schenk;
– Sempervivum andreanum Wale;
– Sempervivum arvernense Lecoq & Lamotte;
– Sempervivum boutignyanum Billot & Gren.;
– Sempervivum cantalicum Jord. & Fourr.;
– Sempervivum clusianum (Ten.) Ten.;
– Sempervivum glaucum Ten.;
– Sempervivum lamottei Boreau;
– Sempervivum schottii Baker;
– Sempervivum spectabile C.B.Lehm. & Schnittsp.;
– Sempervivum cebennense Lamotte.
Within this species, the following subspecies and varieties are also recognized:
– Sempervivum tectorum subsp. tectorum L., 1753;
– Sempervivum tectorum var. arvernense (Lecoq & Lamotte) Zonn.;
– Sempervivum tectorum var. tectorum L., 1753.

Etymology –
The term Sempervivum comes from sémper semper e da vívo vive: which is always alive despite the growing environment apparently devoid of nourishment and subject to long periods of drought.
The specific epithet tectorum refers to roofs, plural genitive of téctum roof: due to its ability to grow on roofs.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Sempervivum tectorum is a plant native to central-western Europe, especially from the mountains of southern Europe. It is widespread in a large part of Western Europe.
In Italy it is present in the Alps and the Apennines.
Its habitat is that of rocky places, cliffs, arid slopes, especially on limestone, and sunny walls, roofs, up to 2800 m of altitude.

Description –
Sempervivum tectorum is a perennial, succulent, stoloniferous herbaceous plant with a 20-50 cm high stem.
The leaves are distributed in the form of a rosette, are gray-green, sessile, 4-10 cm in diameter, often with pink-red shades.
The upper cauline leaves are alternate, lanceolate, pubescent on both sides and slightly longer.
The inflorescence is a dense apical corymb, which bears 10-40 flowers about 3 cm wide. The corolla is made up of 12-15 petals.
The antesis is between June and August.
The fruits are erect follicles.
It is a highly variable species, in part because hundreds of cultivars have been propagated, sold, and traded for nearly 200 years.

Cultivation –
The common houseleek is an evergreen perennial succulent plant that is also harvested in its natural state for local use as a food and medicinal plant.
It is an easy-to-grow plant that prefers well-drained grainy soil in full sun and grows in any sandy soil, populating rock crevices, walls, paths, etc. in a short time, as long as there is enough humus. Once established, these plants are very resistant to drought but tolerate winter humidity poorly.
Propagation can take place by seed and sowing should be done on the surface in early spring. It usually germinates in 2 – 6 weeks at 10 ° C. the transplant must be carried out in summer if the plants have reached a sufficient size, otherwise it is advisable to let them grow again in pots for another year.
It can propagate well by division in either spring or early summer. The larger divisions can be planted directly in the open field or, in any case, in the final location.
It can also be propagated by cuttings obtained from the stems.

Customs and Traditions –
The common houseleek, also known as Jupiter’s beard, housekeeper or rooftop houseleek, is a plant that has been used for a long time for various purposes.
A Roman tradition which states that it protects buildings from lightning.
In fact, the plant was traditionally designed to protect against storms and for this reason grown on the roofs of houses.
Many of its popular names in different languages ​​reflect an association with the Roman thunder god Jupiter, most notably the Latin beard Jovis referred to in the Floridus traditionally attributed to Emilio Macer, and its French derivative joubarbe, which has its once gave rise to jubard and jo-barb in English; or with the Norse god of thunder Thor as in the German Donnerbart.
It is also simply called the thunder plant. However, the association with Jupiter was also derived from a similarity between the flowers and the god’s beard; in modern times it was also called St. George’s beard.
The story goes that a botanist tried for eighteen months to dry a plant for his herbarium, but failed to do so. He later brought it back to its first place, after which it grew up again as if nothing had happened.
In some traditions it is believed that this plant protects more generally from decay and witchcraft.
In his Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperii, Charlemagne recommended its cultivation on top of houses. In some places, in fact, S. tectorum is still traditionally grown on the roofs of houses.
However, this plant also has other uses, both in the medicinal and food fields.
The leaves and their juice are used for their refreshing and astringent effect, being applied externally to soothe many skin diseases. As with many other remedies that are both astringent and soothing, this plant firms and softens the skin at the same time.
The fresh leaves are astringent, diuretic, odontalgic, refrigerant and vulnerary.
Sempervivum tectorum juice has been used in herbal medicine as an astringent and curative for skin and eye diseases, including Galen and Dioscorides, to relieve inflammation and, mixed with honey, to treat thrush; however, high doses have an emetic effect. Quotations are also found in Pliny and Marcello Empirico listed it as a component in external treatments for bruises, 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 use.
The Romans cultivated the plant in containers in front of the windows and associated it with the medicine of love.
Among the food uses are used the leaves and young shoots that can be eaten in salads.
The juice from the leaves is used as a refreshing drink.

Preparation Method –
Sempervivum tectorum leaves are harvested as needed and used fresh. They are used as a poultice in much the same way as Aloe vera in the treatment of a wide range of skin conditions, burns, scalds, bites and stings etc. and they have also been used to eliminate warts and corns.
The plant is also sometimes used internally in the treatment of shingles, skin ailments and hemorrhoids, although some caution is needed as, if used in excess, the plant is emetic and purgative.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/125393275/original.jpeg

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.