Crassula nudicaulis var. nudicaulis

Crassula nudicaulis var. nudicaulis is a leaf succulent, a low-growing perennial reaching 30 cm in height only when its comparatively tall inflorescence is present.

This is a widespread variety of its species found north of the Vaal River at least in Gauteng, in KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and the Northern Cape, as well as on the Western Cape and Eastern Cape coast (and some distance inland), from Clanwilliam to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). 

The plant in picture was photographed in habitat not far from Hermanus in coastal sand. This is what it looks like at the end of a dry summer. The leaves show ample orange, pinkish red, yellow and bordering on brown colouring, green hardly debatable. But seed production is being achieved from seasonal energy consumed, welcome rest hopefully soon will be surely deserved. The wait is on for winter rain and vigorous new green leaves to drive up the next flower stem.

The plants grow in scrub and fynbos in clay, loam or sandy soils, where the available varied rainfall patterns all suffice for this resident. The variety's habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century.

The Afrikaans common name of skraalplakkie holds some descriptive interest. Skraal means lean, which makes sense from the thinly succulent leaf appearance. Plakkie, may be translated as small slab or paddle, also referring to the leaf shape.  (Plakkie is a colloquial name for Cotyledon, Kalanchoe and Crassula leaves, so far eluding a satisfactory equivalent in English.) Local children sometimes pick plakkie leaves to use as toys (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Mustart, et al, 1997; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).