Crassula swaziensis

Crassula swaziensis is a variable, low-growing leaf succulent reaching heights up to 30 cm. The thin, brittle branches are mostly decumbent, becoming up to 20 cm long. They produce several rosettes of erect leaves as the plants spread in dense stands.

The disc-shaped, succulent leaves are almost circular to oval with rounded, sometimes with obtusely pointed tips. The leaves may be faintly to densely hairy, particularly along the margins. Leaf colour is purplish grey, brownish, grey-green or green in colour, depending on the amount of sun they receive. Leaf dimensions are from 2 cm to 6 cm long and 1,5 cm to 4 cm wide.

Old leaves persist to some extent. A pair of smaller, opposite stem-leaves are visible in picture halfway up to the flowers.

The species distribution is in the provinces north of the Vaal River as well as in KwaZulu-Natal, also in some neighbouring countries, notably Zimbabwe.

The habitat is exposed rock crevices, grassland and bushveld, the plants often growing in full sun. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Frandsen, 2017; Pooley, 1998; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; Hardy and Fabian, 1992; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).