Crassula nudicaulis var. nudicaulis buds

Crassula nudicaulis var. nudicaulis is living here at close quarters with a pale, pointed-leaved Oscularia deltoides vygie in the Nuwekloof Pass between the Swartland and the Tulbagh Valley.

An October profusion of buds is ready to burst into bloom. The Crassula inflorescences are dense, rounded clusters of beady buds near or at stem-tips. The white petals of each bud are still closed, surrounded by green sepal lobes. Open petals will be about 4 mm long.

Small stem-leaves or bracts are decussate, well-spaced up the stems. The flowering stem is said to be maroon, only half-heartedly so in this photo.

The specific (and variety) name is derived from the Latin word nudus meaning naked or bare and caulis meaning stalk or stem, referring to the naked stems, which aren’t as naked as the name professes (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Smith, et al, 2017; iNaturalist; https://www.fernkloof.org.za).