Crassula alba var. alba

Crassula alba var. alba is a perennial succulent that reaches heights around 50 cm. The plants are short-lived, sometimes only biennial. Although widespread the species isn’t common.

The pale to yellow-green, narrow leaves are stalkless, lanceolate and hairy with ciliate margins, i.e. densely fringed with minute hairs. The leaves mainly form a basal rosette pointing obliquely upwards and outwards with acutely pointed tips. More leaves, positioned opposite each other and reducing in size are found upwards along the flowering stem. Reddish patches are sometimes seen on some of the leaves. The stems are pinkish red, erect and hairy; usually unbranched.

The inflorescence is a terminal, flat-topped thyrse made up of many small flowers appearing in late summer and autumn. The flowers may be white, pink or red; only occasionally living up to its name of white flowers. The stamens have dark brown anthers.

The distribution of the variety and the status of its population in habitat have not been determined (Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; Onderstall, 1984; Germishuizen and Fabian, 1982; http://redlist.sanbi.org).