Crassula tecta flowers

The flowers of Crassula tecta grow in rounded, dense clusters on sturdy stalks up to 8 cm long. The stalks are covered in white-tipped papillae as are the leaves. A pair of small, opposite leaves is sometimes seen on the flower stalk.

The thriving greenhouse specimen in this photo has managed several inflorescences on pinkish stalks. The flowers are small, white and tubular; their five petals up to 4 mm long, pointed and recurving. The yellow anthers do not protrude beyond the corolla.

The flowers age to a buff colour and may persist on the plant for a few months. Flowering happens in autumn and into winter (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Moriarty, 1997; www.plantzafrica.com).