| The genus ''Sempervivum'' is easy to recognize, but its species are often not easy to identify. Even one single clone can look very different under various growth conditions ([[modifications (genetics)|modifications]]) or different times of the year. The members of this genus are very similar and closely linked to each other. As a consequence, many [[subspecies]], [[variety (biology)|varieties]], and [[form (botany)|form]]s were described, without well-defined limits between them. As a second consequence, there are a high frequency of natural [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]] in this genus and the possibility of [[back-crossing]]s of these. However, more or less 40 species can be individualized in the whole area of the genus, but there are many more local [[population]]s, without nomenclatural valour but with sometimes their own characters. | | The genus ''Sempervivum'' is easy to recognize, but its species are often not easy to identify. Even one single clone can look very different under various growth conditions ([[modifications (genetics)|modifications]]) or different times of the year. The members of this genus are very similar and closely linked to each other. As a consequence, many [[subspecies]], [[variety (biology)|varieties]], and [[form (botany)|form]]s were described, without well-defined limits between them. As a second consequence, there are a high frequency of natural [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]] in this genus and the possibility of [[back-crossing]]s of these. However, more or less 40 species can be individualized in the whole area of the genus, but there are many more local [[population]]s, without nomenclatural valour but with sometimes their own characters. |