Crassula atropurpurea var. anomala

Crassula atropurpurea var. anomala is a compact leaf succulent growing erect stems to 15 cm. It is one of six recognised varieties of C. atropurpurea. Old stem parts become leafless and slightly woody.

The elliptic to obovate leaves with rounded tips are more convex on the outer surface than inside, borne erectly. Bright pinkish red to purple leaf-tip coloration is present on leaves and leaf parts most exposed to sun.

This plant was photographed in the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne during midsummer. The dense, rounded flower clusters on longish, erect stalks have now lost their white petal colour, faded to mops of floral waste over tiny fruit.

This variety is endemic to the Western Cape where it grows on stony slopes in semi-arid conditions, receiving its rain mostly in winter, its sun without need for shelter. The plant is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Smith, et al, 1997; https://worldofsucculents.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).