Crassula L.

Diminutive of crassus— thick, referring to the fleshy leaves and branches.

Small, soft-wooded shrubs, annual herbs or aquatic plants. Leaves opposite, united at the base, not deciduous. Flower clusters branching. Flowers 3-5-parted, usually with leafy bracts. Sepals shortly united at the base, fleshy, often of unequal size. Petals shortly united at the base if at all, spreading or tube-like, the apices bent back. Stamens in 1 whorl. Carpels free, each with 1-few ovules.

Grown mostly as curiosities and once very popular, often found in rockeries and sometimes remaining in or spreading from old gardens.Many more species than those described may be found.The genus Tillaea L. is sometimes segregated from Crassula.

About 170-200 species from temperate regions, the centre of distribution being in southern Africa. Australia has 8 endemic species.

Stem or leaf cuttings.

Opposite leaves more or less fused at the base; stamens in 1 whorl.

Higgins (1964), Toelken (1977, 1985).

Source: Stajsic, V.; Spencer, R.; Forster, P.; Thompson, A. (2002). Crassulaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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Cultivars

Crassula 'Blue Bird'

The exact identity of this cultivar is uncertain, possibly c. arborescens subsp. undulatifolia. Low, robust shrub with oval, glaucous leaves.

Crassula 'Emerald'

Possibly a hybrid between c. sussanae and c. barklyi.

Crassula 'Jade Necklace'

A hybrid between c. rupestris subsp. marnieriana and c. perfoliata var. falcata.

Crassula 'Roger Jones'

A hybrid between c. barbata and possibly c. orbiculata.

Crassula 'Springtime'

A hybrid possibly between c. perfoliata var. falcata and c. rupestris.

Crassula 'Tom Thumb'

A hybrid between c. rupestris subsp. marnieriana and, probably, c. rupestris subsp. rupestris.

kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     [Saxifraganae]
order      Saxifragales
family       Crassulaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Crassula coccinea L.
species         Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne
species         Crassula multicava Lem.
species         Crassula muscosa L.
species         Crassula ovata (Mill.) Druce
species         Crassula rupestris Thunb.
species         Crassula sarmentosa Harvey
species         Crassula tetragona L.