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Crassula columnaris subs. prolifera Friedrich

Family: CRASSULACEAE · Variety or form of Crassula columnaris

Publication: Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. München 11: 334 1974

Description

Crassula columnaris subsp. prolifera is much branched at the base. Subsp. prolifera is the northern form in which the axillary buds break off and root around the parent plant, hence the name ‘prolifera’. The main stem extends up to 80 mm especially on flowering and the flower cluster is well above the leaves. After flowering the flowering stem dies back (it is monocarpic), but in the leaf-axils of the lowest leaves small new shoots have been developed. This characteristic is the big difference between ssp. prolifera and the standard Crassula columnaris which really dies back after their flowers stopped blooming and can therefore only be propagated through seeds. The plants only last for a few years.

Stems: Only 1-2 cm in diameter, proliferating profusely from the base forming dense groups. At time of flowering (early winter) the adult shoot starts to stretch, the leaf pairs take a distance from each other and the compact column looses its beauty a bit.

Leaves: Fleshy, greeny brown, sand brown or blackish colour, arranged in a regular geometric pattern that appears plaited. This happens slowly, gradually forming a column around each stem in mature plants, about 2 cm in diameter. Lower face with a distinct keel. It is the keel or beak on the leaf tips that distinguish this sub species from one another. In habitat the fleshy rosettes, often appears desiccated after a long, hot and dry summer. Even after rain the plant retains some of the brownish leaf colour. In cultivation this Crassula forms lovely fat columns with densely stacked leaves.

Flowers. In winter an awesome inflorescence of few centimetres in diameter is produced. It is covered with whitish flowers which continue to bloom for a long time and sometimes buds are tinged with red or pink. Corolla 6-9 mm.

Blooming season: Mid-winter to spring.

Origin and Habitat

Crassula columnaris subsp. prolifera is the northern form which occurs in Namaqualand, Bushmanland (Northern Cape, Republic of South Africa) and southern Namibia

Habitat and ecology: Succulent Karoo. This species flowers mid-winter to spring (July to October).

Bibliography

Major references and further lectures

  1. Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Crassulaceae” Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 05/Nov/2012

  2. Doreen Court “Succulent Flora of Southern Africa” CRC Press, 01/June/2000

  3. “The Illustrated London News”, Volume 223, 2nd Edition, Illustrated London News & Sketch Limited, 1953

  4. www.crassula.info Crassula columnaris ssp. prolifera web: http://www.crassula.info/EN/ColumnarisProliferaEN.html

  5. Williamson, 2010

  6. Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010

  7. Judd Kirkel “Crassula columnaris subsp. prolifera” in Operation wild flowers. web: http://www.operationwildflower.org.za/index.php/albums/crassulas/crassula-columnaris-subsp-prolifera-richtersveld-eksteenfontein-judd-2-2709

  8. Judd Kirkel Welwitch “Flowering South African Crassula” Xerophilia – Vol. 2, No. 3 (6) – September 2013