Crassula deltoidea leaves

The thickly succulent leaves of Crassula deltoidea grow sessile in opposite pairs. The leaf shape is triangular with an acute tip. The young leaves may have upturned lateral margins, while some older ones curve down at their tips.

Each consecutive leaf pair is positioned perpendicular to the previous one. In botanical parlance this feature is called decussate phyllotaxis, but the plant is small for such a word burden.

Leaf surfaces are variably grey, modified by some green, blue or red, depending upon the season and prevailing conditions. The leaves are covered in flaky wax, as well as mottled by tiny dots.

C. deltoidea has short, branched stems often invisible due to the density of the foliage. Near the base, the stem parts become woody (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; iSpot).