Crassula

Morphological Summary

Crassula is the second-largest genus in the family Crassulaceae, encompassing annual, biennial, and perennial succulents ranging from tiny creeping herbs to multi-branched shrubs, all united by fleshy leaves in opposite pairs and often connate at the base. Flowers are small — typically white, pink, or red — gathered in cymes or panicles and usually consisting of five petals. The genus name derives from the Latin crassus (thick), referring to the water-storing leaf tissue that allows these plants to endure prolonged drought. Most species inhabit succulent scrublands, fynbos, rocky outcrops, and semi-arid landscapes of the Cape region, where free-draining, nutrient-poor soils predominate.