Crassula columnaris subsp. prolifera

Crassula columnaris subsp. prolifera grows fleshy leaves in a regular geometric pattern that appears plaited. This happens slowly, gradually forming a column around each stem in mature plants, about 2 cm in diameter.

This cluster of branched rosettes, photographed east of Port Nolloth, appears desiccated in April after a long, hot and dry summer. Even after rain the plant retains some of the brownish leaf colour. Once a flower has been produced, the column dies. The plants only last for a few years.

The distribution of this subspecies is from the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape to the Western Cape part of Namaqualand.

The habitat is sandy flats and quartzitic outcrops. The subspecies is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Williamson, 2010; http://redlist.sanbi.org).