I've always had a soft spot for crassulas but don't grow many, just a few of those I like the best. It's a very large genus and while looking for conos & adros in South Africa I regularly see half a dozen different crassulas growing together, sometimes more – no doubt DT can refer back to his notes for the most recorded in one place. Like any large genus there are common & rare species and Crassula susannae was one of the rare ones which I'd long wanted to see. Unlike may others which are seen over a vast area, this is localised to one farm on the quartz fields of the north western Knersvalkte.
I'd visited it's locality many years ago with Derek but we didn't find it back then. But with Andy, Alice & Alan I had another chance when we included Riethuis on a recent itinerary to see the endemic conos there. It's discoverer John Lavranos had told me it was difficult to find.
Can you see it? There are tell-tale old flowers at the top of the picture.
I asked around among my friends & contacts and luckily got some GPS coordinates from another South Africa fanatic who had see it. It didn't take us too long.....
Patterns in the sand.....
When I blew away some of the sand.....
Another crassula which is a favourite of mine, but far more common and widespread across the Richterveld is C.alstonii. It's tricky to grow so rarely seen in cultivation.
These three pctures are at Grashoek, north of Umdaus......
....and this amazing group were above the farmhouse at Kosies.
Three Choice Crassulas
- ChrisR
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Three Choice Crassulas
Chris Rodgerson- Sheffield UK BCSS 27098
See www.conophytum.com for ca.4000 photos and growing info on Conophytum, Crassula & Adromischus.
See www.conophytum.com for ca.4000 photos and growing info on Conophytum, Crassula & Adromischus.
- ChrisR
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Re: Three Choice Crassulas
Andy Young obtained permits for us to visit the Gamsberg in May this year – it's a Bushmanland mountain restricted now due to mining. We'd been before, but it's a large area so impossible to walk over it all on a short visit. This time we had info of where to find some patches of calcrete where amongst other things, Crassula mesembryanthemopsis grows.
Chris Rodgerson- Sheffield UK BCSS 27098
See www.conophytum.com for ca.4000 photos and growing info on Conophytum, Crassula & Adromischus.
See www.conophytum.com for ca.4000 photos and growing info on Conophytum, Crassula & Adromischus.
- Diane
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Re: Three Choice Crassulas
Super photos, Chris! And all my favourites too.....
Diane - member of Kingston branch
Growing cacti - balm to the soul!
Growing cacti - balm to the soul!
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Re: Three Choice Crassulas
Great photos Chris, thanks for sharing.
Cheers
Gary
Plant Interests
cacti & other succulents, carnivorous plants
Gary
Plant Interests
cacti & other succulents, carnivorous plants
Re: Three Choice Crassulas
Great photos, great plants, thanks.
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Re: Three Choice Crassulas
Absolutely great to see those growing inhabitat. Thanks for putting up the pictures.
Obsessive Crassulaceae lover, especially Aeoniums but also grow, Aloes, Agaves, Haworthias and a select number of Cacti.
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Re: Three Choice Crassulas
Thanks for that. Excellent pictures of excellent plants.
I have grown suzannae to a decent size before it keeled over last year. Haven't replaced it yet.
I have grown suzannae to a decent size before it keeled over last year. Haven't replaced it yet.