Crassula perfoliata var. minor (propellor plant)

Crassula perfoliata L. var. minor (Haw.) G.D. Rowley

Crassula falcata Wendl.

Propellor plant, propeller plant

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Rosales	Rose family and eight others
Family	Crassulaceae	Succulents that store water in leaves
Genus	Crassula	From the Latin crassus, “thick,” referring to the fleshy leaves
Species	perfoliata	Refers to the stem which ‘perforates’ the stem
var.	minor	Smaller, lesser

About plant names...

Propellor plants are natives of southern South Africa, not found in the wild in North America. The common name refers to the leaves, which are shaped like the blades of a propellor.

Identification: These plants have grayish green leaves and grow to about 12" (30 cm) tall (not counting the flower stalk). Leaves are succulent (thickened to store water), sickle-shaped, up to 3½" (9 cm) x 1" (2.8 cm) in size. They are often spotted or edged with red, and are edged with very small teeth. Flowers appear on a stalk about 20" (50 cm) in height, branching into a rounded or flat-topped flowerhead. Flowers range from bright red to nearly white, described by one source as a “bright red broccoli cluster.” Individual flowers are up to ¼" (7 mm) long.

Crassula perfoliata var. minor in flower. By Groogle. 3/18/2010.

Online References:

Crassula perfoliata var. minor on pza.sanbi.org

Crassula perfoliata var. minor on Cactus Art: the World of Cacti & Succulents

Crassula perfoliata var. minor on xericworld.com

Crassula perfoliata var. minor on Wikimedia Commons

Crassula perfoliata var. minor description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

4/6/2011 · Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD
≈ 15 × 12" (38 × 29 cm)

Range:

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