Crassula | |
---|---|
Crassula capitella | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Saxifragales |
Family: | Crassulaceae |
Subfamily: | Crassuloideae |
Genus: | Crassula L. |
Type species | |
Crassula perfoliata L. | |
Species | |
Many, see text | |
Synonyms | |
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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.
Crassula was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 with 10 species. [4]
The name crassula comes from the Latin adjective crassus, meaning thick, referring to the thickening of the succulent leaves.
The Crassulaceae, also known as the stonecrop family or the orpine family, are a diverse family of dicotyledon flowering plants characterized by succulent leaves and a unique form of photosynthesis, known as Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Flowers generally have five floral parts. Crassulaceae are usually herbaceous but there are some subshrubs, and relatively few treelike or aquatic plants. Crassulaceae are a medium-sized monophyletic family in the core eudicots, among the order Saxifragales, whose diversity has made infrafamilial classification very difficult. The family includes approximately 1,400 species and 34–35 genera, depending on the circumscription of the genus Sedum, and distributed over three subfamilies. Members of the Crassulaceae are found worldwide, but mostly in the Northern Hemisphere and southern Africa, typically in dry and/or cold areas where water may be scarce, although a few are aquatic.
The Coronado Islands are a group of islands located 13 km (8 mi) off the northwest coast of the Mexican state of Baja California. Battered by the wind and waves, the rocky islands are mostly uninhabited except for a small military detachment and a lighthouse keeper. Despite their barren appearance, they serve as a refuge for seabirds and support a sizable number of plants, including 6 endemic taxa found only on the islands. The waters around the islands support a considerable amount of diverse marine life.
Adromischus is a genus of flowering plants. They are easily-propagated, leaf succulents from the family Crassulaceae, which are endemic to southern Africa. The name comes from the ancient Greek adros (=thick) and mischos (=stem).
Crassula arborescens—the silver jade plant, silver dollar (jade) plant, beestebul, Chinese jade, cookie plant, money plant, or money tree, that is endemic to Western Cape, South Africa, is a species of succulent plant in the family Crassulaceae.
Crassula capitella, is a perennial succulent plant native to southern Africa.
Crassula nudicaulis is a succulent plant native to South Africa, and Lesotho.
Crassula cotyledonis is a succulent plant endemic to the arid Namaqualand and Karoo regions of South Africa.
Crassula cultrata is a succulent plant native to the southern parts of South Africa.
Crassula subaphylla is a succulent plant belonging to the family Crassulaceae. It is widespread in the Karoo regions of South Africa and Namibia.
Crassula atropurpurea is a succulent plant, very common and widespread in the southern Karoo regions of South Africa and Namibia.
Crassula pubescens is a succulent plant, common and widespread in the southern Karoo regions of South Africa.