Succulents

Adenia fruticosa subsp. fruticosa

Botanical name	Adenia fruticosa subsp. fruticosa
Other names	Green-stem; bobbejaangif (Afrikaans)
Family	Passifloraceae
Dimensions	Climber with multiple whiplike branches of up to 5 m, attaching to tree and other supports through tendrils
Description of stem	Thick green trunklike base of up to 2m in height and over 0,5m in diameter from which the sleder branches emanate
Description of leaves	3 to 5 blue-green leaflets arranged digitately upon a long petiole; leaflet shape varying from round to ovate or obovate; margin entire; a small gland at the end of the petiole at the base of the leaflets
Description of flowers	Green cymes, female flowers smaller in August and September
Description of seed/fruit	Oval capsule containing up to six seeds
Description of roots
Variation	Different subspecies inKwazulu-Nataland the north ofLimpopo
Propagation and cultivation	Transplants if base of stem and roots are not too badly damaged and good drainage is ; thesmaller specimen seems to survive better; frost-sensitive
Tolerances
Uses	Popular indigenous garden subject
Ecological rarity	Could be endangered by popularity and development
Pests and diseases	Stem may rot from over-watering and poor drainage
Other
Location	Thorny bushveld in rocky places and on sandy soil
Distribution (SA provinces)	Mpumalanga,Limpopo
Country	South Africa,Zimbabwe

Botanical name	Adromischus umbraticola
Other names
Family	Crassulaceae
Dimensions	Small succulent plant, leaves about 4 cm
Description of stem	Very short, to almost absent
Description of leaves	Thick,succulent leaves with entire margins, no stems, clustered in near vertical manner; upper leaf parts covered in reddish spots, lower part light green
Description of flowers	Upright stalk with up to about ten tubular pinkish flowers
Description of seed/fruit
Description of roots
Variation
Propagation and cultivation
Tolerances
Uses
Ecological rarity
Pests and diseases
Other
Location	Rocky ridges and outcrops
Distribution (SA provinces)	Gauteng; Northwest Province
Country	South Africa

Botanical Name	Anacampseros subnuda
Other names	Haaskos (Afrikaans)
	Portulacaceae
Dimensions	Small succulent,usually below 7cm
Description of Stem	Branched, erect stems, however, mostly appears stemless
Description of Leaves	Globose in clusters appearing berry-like, green, but brown-red when receiving much sunlight, silky white hairs from the base protrude past the leaves, especially in young growth
Description of flowers	Small light ot bright pink, five petals up to 1cm, appearing in terminal clusters
Description of seed/fruit
Description of roots	Tuberous rootstock
Variation
Propagation and Cultivation
Tolerances
Uses
Ecological rarity
Pests and Diseases
Other
Location	On rocky outcrops in open grassland, in shallow to very little soil, often in tiny crevices
Distribution	Gauteng and North West, Magaliesberg hilltops
Country	South Africa

Anacampseros subnuda; Photographed by Jack Latti

Anacampseros subnuda; Photographed Jack Latti in the Magaliesberg

Botanical name	Crassula perfoliata, variation minor
Other names	Heuningbossie (Afrikaans)
Family	Crassulaceae
Dimensions
Description of stem
Description of leaves	Long, flat, falcate, succulent leaves of about 6 to 9 cm by 2 cm in width emerge from stems to give the plant a two-dimensional appearance; leaf colouring from yellow-green to grey-green
Description of flowers	Conspicuous broad red flowering heads of multiple small flowers on single stems a few cm above the leaves appearing in summer;
Description of seed/fruit
Description of roots
Variation

Propagation and cultivation	Grows from leaves or stem cuttings
Tolerances
Uses	Common garden and potted plant
Ecological rarity
Pests and Diseases
Other
Location	Typically on Eastern Cape river banks;
Distribution (SA provinces)	Eastern Cape
Country	South Africa

Botanical name	Crassula rupestris
Other names	Concertina plant; kebab bush; sosatiebos (Afrikaans)
Family	Crassulaceae
Dimensions	Small succulent bush, rounded and dense when standing alone, 15 cm high by 25 cm wide in a well-growing, mature plant
Description of stem	Many-branched, curving attractively, red-brown with grey pieces flaking, sturdy stems from which the sessile succulent leaves grow in their distinctively opposite patterns
Description of leaves	Thick fleshy with light green or yellow surface, reddish on the edges, flatter top surface whilst more rounded underneath, every opposing pair of leaves at right angles with the previous pair
Description of flowers	Clusters of pinkish white flowers on branched stems over the leaves
Description of seed/fruit
Description of roots
Variation	Greener in more shaded and moist positions

Propagation and cultivation	Grows easily from cuttings, hardy
Tolerances
Uses	Rockery gardens or xeriscaping
Ecological rarity	Common and robust in mostly arid areas
Pests and diseases	Resistant to disease
Other
Location	Northern slopes of arid regions, thriving in positions exposed to hot sun
Distribution	Little and Great Karoo, Eastern, Western and Northern Cape, Richtersveld
Country	South Africa, Namibia

Crassula rupestris at Baviaanskloof; Photographed by Jack Latti

Crassula rupestris in bloom; Photographed by Ricky Mauer in August