Crassula nemorosa

Crassula nemorosa is an erect or sprawling, dwarf leaf-succulent growing from a small perennial tuber and reaching heights from 6 cm to 15 cm.

The opposite, stalked leaves are heart-shaped to kidney-shaped, their arrangement decussate. The blue-green, grey-green or green blades are fleshy to succulent and smooth, the margins entire. Rings of gland dots near the margins are visible on the leaves in picture.

Small clusters of nodding flowers grow from leaf axils and stem-tips on the elongating upper stems. In picture the fleshy, leaf-coloured sepals still dominate in the developing flowers. Flowering happens during winter and early spring.

The species distribution is widespread in the Western Cape, extending through Namaqualand close to the west coast as far as the southwest of Namibia and eastwards across the western half of the Eastern Cape to Uitenhage. The photo was taken southwest of Oudtshoorn.

The habitat is shaded and sheltered, rocky crevices and slopes. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Smith, et al, 2017; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).