Crassula is a genus of succulent plants containing about 200 accepted species,[1] including the popular jade plant (Crassula ovata). 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]

Crassula
Crassula capitella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Crassuloideae
Genus: Crassula
L.[1]
Type species
Crassula perfoliata
L.
Diversity
c. 250 species
Synonyms[1]
List
  • Bulliarda DC.
  • Combesia A.Rich.
  • Crassularia Hochst. ex Schweinf.
  • Creusa P.V.Heath
  • Curtogyne Haw.
  • Danielia Lem.
  • Dasystemon DC.
  • Dietrichia Tratt.
  • Dinacria Harv.
  • Globulea Haw.
  • Gomara Adans.
  • Grammanthes DC.
  • Helophytum Eckl. & Zeyh.
  • Kalorochea H.J.Veitch
  • Kalosanthes Haw.
  • Larochea Pers.
  • Mesanchum Dulac
  • Pagella Schönland
  • Petrogeton Eckl. & Zeyh.
  • × Purgobulea P.V.Heath
  • Purgosea Haw.
  • Rhopalota N.E.Br.
  • Rochea DC., nom. cons.
  • × Rocheassula G.D.Rowley
  • Sarcolipes Eckl. & Zeyh.
  • Septas L.
  • Septimia P.V.Heath
  • Sphaeritis Eckl. & Zeyh.
  • Tetraphyle Eckl. & Zeyh.
  • Thisantha Eckl. & Zeyh.
  • Tillaea L.
  • Tillaeastrum Britton
  • Toelkenia P.V.Heath
  • Turgosea Haw.
  • Vauanthes Haw.

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

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Crassula was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 with 10 species.[4]

Etymology

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

Selected species

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List of selected cultivars

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  • Crassula 'Buddha's Temple'
  • Crassula 'Coralita'
  • Crassula 'Dorothy'
  • Crassula 'Emerald'
  • Crassula 'Fallwood'
  • Crassula 'Hummel's Sunset'
  • Crassula 'Ivory Pagoda'
  • Crassula 'Justus Corderoy'
  • Crassula 'Morgan's Beauty'
  • Crassula 'Moonglow'
  • Crassula 'Petite Bicolor,' sometimes sold as Sedum 'Little Missy' or 'Mini Kitty', a cultivar of Crassula pellucida var. marginalis [6] 'Calico Kitten'
  • Crassula 'Springtime'
  • Crassula 'Tom Thumb'
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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Crassula L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
  2. ^ "Crassula (genus) - Crassulaceae". The Succulent Plant Page. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  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. Bibcode:2019MolPE.131...35B. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.10.045. ISSN 1055-7903. PMID 30391519.
  4. ^ Linnaeus 1753.
  5. ^ "Crassula (Crassula alpestris) in the Crassulas Database". Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  6. ^ "World of Succulents","Succulentopedia", Crassula 'Petite Bicolor', 2017. Online at https://worldofsucculents.com/crassula-petite-bicolor/

Bibliography

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