Crassula pellucida subsp. brachypetala

Crassula pellucida subsp. brachypetala is a succulent perennial that grows a fleshy underground rhizome and aboveground reclining stems of up to 60 cm long, rooting at nodes. The variable, sometimes hairy plant is one of five recognised subspecies of C. pellucida.

The specific name, pellucida, is of Latin origin meaning transparent. The subspecific one, brachypetala, is derived from the Greek words brachus meaning short and petalon meaning thin plate, referring to the flower’s short petals.

The species distribution is in the east of the country, from the Eastern Cape, the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal to the Mpumalanga and Limpopo Lowveld. The plant’s range extends to tropical Africa.

The habitat is summer rainfall grassland, moist forest margins and rocky outcrops, also the shade of dry bushveld. The subspecies is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Smith, et al, 2017; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).