Crassula sladenii

Crassula sladenii is a succulent shrub of the area along the Gariep (Orange) River in the arid Richtersveld and across the river into Namibia. The plant is endemic to this smallish area near the coast and slightly inland. The plant grows among rocks on exposed slopes near the river mouth. This specimen was photographed near Alexander Bay.

The leaves of C. sladenii are thickly succulent, ovate to oblong and tapering to slight obtuse tips, nearly rounded. The margins are bright red and there are tiny red dots scattered on the leaf surfaces. Leaf colour is yellowish, tinged with orange and green, but pale bluish at other times. Leaves are sessile, growing in opposite pairs (http://redlist.sanbi.org).