Kingdom Plantae Family Crassulaceae Rank Species | Order Saxifragales Genus Crassula | |
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Similar Crassula elegans, Crassula ausensis, Crassula rupestris, Crassula perforata, Crassula alba | ||
Crassula nudicaulis is a succulent plant native to South Africa (the Cape Provinces, the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Provinces), and Lesotho.
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Description
Crassula nudicaulis is a perennial succulent herb with a thickened taproot and several rosettes of basal leaves. Plants are somewhat variable in appearance and there are several subspecies over the plant's wide range. The nominate subspecies C. N. nudicaulis has oblong-elliptic leaves that are 50 to 80 mm (2 to 3 in) long whereas the subspecies C. N. herrei has shorter, more fleshy, hairless leaves, 30 to 40 mm (1.2 to 1.6 in) long, but can grow into a shrubby bush up to 25 cm (10 in) tall. The subspecies C. N. platyphylla has bluish-grey foliage, the leaves being broadly oblong to orbicular with cilia near the margins. The leaves of this species can turn brown, but thy do not adopt the brick red hues sometimes taken on by Crassula subacaulis and Crassula clavata. The inflorescence is a spike; the lowest one to three pairs of bracts have no flowers in the axils but the others do. The flowers are turned upwards and have distinctive dorsal appendages. This species is closely related to Crassula cotyledonis.
Distribution and habitat
Crassula nudicaulis is native to southern Africa where its range extends from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Lesotho. Its habitat is hillside and mountain slopes.
Cultivation
Crassula nudicaulis is easy to grow as a potplant in a gravelly medium. Mealy bugs and fungal diseases can cause problems, and over-watering should be avoided. Propagation is by division, offsets or leaf cuttings.
