Macro Monday ~ Guard the Houses (Crassulaceae)

The plant is named after the ancient belief that it protects the house and family from fire, disease, evil forces.  For this purpose, it is often planted near houses. It is a perennial, up to 30 cm tall plant with very modest requirements. The plant is resistant to both winter and heat, and especially to dry conditions. Its rosette-shaped leaves are full of juice, just like desert cacti. A 30 cm tall stem is broken from the rosette, bearing pink flowers at the top. The cultivated plant can be used, except as an ornament, also as food and medicine. You can add leaves full of pleasant sour juice to salads.  Leaves except in the kitchen are also used in folk medicine.