Crassula pubescens subsp. pubescens floral pirouette

The unconvincingly irregular rosette shape of the Crassula pubescens subsp. pubescens leaf cluster on the sand comprises narrowly obovate leaves of variable size and orientation. Pink and purple with smoothly entire margins, some blades divulge signs of moisture shortage at this stage. It has mainly been rerouted in service of the stem, adorned with spaced, opposite flower clusters.

The stem-tip antic in picture, resembling a flight manoeuvre by a small aircraft, is far more becoming. This elegant bend also provides “forensic” evidence of a shortage in succulence that might have pulled the stem up straight if more juice had been available.

There is more about this artistic inhabitant of southern Namaqualand in the Crassula Album of this Site (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; iNaturalist).