Crassula Explained

Crassula is a genus of succulent plants containing about 200 accepted species, including the popular jade plant (Crassula ovata).[1] They are members of the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae) and are native to many parts of the globe, but cultivated varieties originate almost exclusively from species from the Eastern Cape of South Africa.[2] [3]

Crassulas are usually propagated by stem or leaf cuttings. Most cultivated forms will tolerate some small degree of frost, but extremes of cold or heat will cause them to lose foliage and die.

Taxonomy

Crassula was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 with 10 species.

Etymology

The name crassula comes from the Latin adjective crassus, meaning thick, referring to the thickening of the succulent leaves.

List of selected species

List of selected cultivars

Bibliography

. Species Plantarum: exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas . Impensis Laurentii Salvii . 1753 . 1 . Stockholm . 282–283 . Crassula . https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/13829#page/294/mode/1up . Carl Linnaeus . la., see also Species Plantarum

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Plant List: Crassula . 2013 . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew .
  2. Web site: Crassula (genus) - Crassulaceae . 2024-07-21 . The Succulent Plant Page.
  3. Bruyns . P. V. . Hanáček . P. . Klak . C. . 2019-02-01 . Crassula, insights into an old, arid-adapted group of southern African leaf-succulents . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 131 . 35–47 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.10.045 . 30391519 . 2019MolPE.131...35B . 1055-7903.
  4. Web site: Crassula (Crassula alpestris) in the Crassulas Database . 2019-09-11.
  5. Bussmann . R. W. . et al . 5 May 2006 . Plant use of the Maasai of Sekenani Valley, Maasai Mara, Kenya . Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine . 2 . 22 . 1475560 . 10.1186/1746-4269-2-22 . 16674830 . 22 . free .
  6. "World of Succulents","Succulentopedia", Crassula 'Petite Bicolor', 2017. Online at https://worldofsucculents.com/crassula-petite-bicolor/