Crassula nudicaulis var. platyphylla leaves

These young leaves of Crassula nudicaulis var. platyphylla display an emerald-green to turquoise colour that is also present on the lowest parts of some older leaves. A waxy layer covers the young leaves. Leaves may turn pale pink in habitat during the dry season, almost white for a while in the transition. The inevitable small signs of life’s hardships, the wear and tear inflicted by the environment, are seen on old parts. Thin red lines are present along the leaf margins, as is usual for this plant.

Branching at the base allows for spread in the leaf cluster. Basal stems tend to become woody. As the roots grew stronger, the later leaves in picture have become bigger. The earliest ones still present on the outside never reached full length, while the youngest ones in the centre will still grow long if conditions dont become too harsh.

The leaves of C. nudicaulis var. platyphylla are more broadly ovate than the more oblong, longer ones of C. nudicaulis var. nudicaulis. The red margins also help to separate the two variations. There is a third variation of C. nudicaulis, viz. var. herrei with shrubby habit and thick leaves that may also have red margins (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; www.llifle.com).