Plate 173.
Reading edition
CRASSULA columnaris. Cape Province. Crassulaceae. Crassula, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 657.
Crossula columnaris, Linn. f. Suppl. 191; Fl. Cap. vol. ii. p. 358.
This quaint little Crassula may be found in parts of the Karroo and also in Namaqualand. It has on several occasions been collected in the neighbourhood of Matjesfontein and Ceres. In its native home, where it is usually exposed to the full force of the sun’s rays, it is far more compact than is shown in our illustration, which was made from a plant grown partly in the shelter of a tree. It is easily cultivated on the rockery if not kept too moist, as an abundance of water causes the plant to rot. It is a charming object when in flower, and growers of South African succulents should certainly try to secure specimens of this species, as in shape it is more or less unique in the genus Crassula.
Our plate was prepared from specimens presented by Mr. A. J. Austin of Matjesfontein, and grown at the Division of Botany, Pretoria. We are indebted to Dr. R. Marloth for a photograph of the plant as it grows, and part of the plate has been prepared from this.
Description:—Leaves 2·8 cm. broad, usually less than 1 cm. long, deeply concave on the inner face. Inflorescence a compact globose head. Calyx shortly campanulate at the base; lobes linear-spathulate, fringed above with papillose hairs. Corolla somewhat ventricose below, tubular above; lobes linear-spathulate. Stamens much shorter than the corolla-lobes. Hypogynous glands spathulate above, narrowed into a long claw. Carpels ventricose below, narrowed upwards, somewhat recurved above.
Plate 173.—Fig. 1, a single leaf and cross-section of leaf; Fig. 2, single flower; Fig. 3, corolla laid open showing the stamens; Fig. 4, calyx-lobe, much enlarged; Fig. 5, corolla-lobe, enlarged; Fig. 6, gynaecium, showing hypogynous glands.
F.P.S.A., 1925.
