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''Crassula tetragona'' is a
The plant is erect or spreads shrubless to 1 m (3 ft). It has woody stems with brown bark, with crossed pairs of leaves. Leaves are green to dark green in color. The plant features terminal inflorescence ending in white flowers that come up in summer. The chromosome number varies: 2n=16, 32, 48. The subspecies are separated geographically, generally with only one subspecies per geographic area.
File:Crassula_tetragona_-_blossom_top_(aka).jpg, Inflorescence of ''Crassula tetragona'' subsp. ''robusta''
File:Crassula tetragona subsp lignescens - Robertson.jpg, Leaf detail of ''Crassula tetragona'' subsp. ''lignescens'', the gracile subspecies most widespread in habitat
succulent plant
In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...
native to Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number of ...
. It is widely distributed from the Orange River
The Orange River (from Afrikaans/Dutch: ''Oranjerivier'') is a river in Southern Africa. It is the longest river in South Africa. With a total length of , the Orange River Basin extends from Lesotho into South Africa and Namibia to the north ...
boundary of Namaqualand to beyond the Kei River
The Great Kei River is a river in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is formed by the confluence of the Black Kei River and White Kei River, northeast of Cathcart. It flows for and ends in the Great Kei Estuary at the Indian Ocean wi ...
in the Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha.
The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...
. "Tetragona" comes from the phyllotaxy of the leaves. It is popularly named the "miniature pine tree" among ornamental plant enthusiasts, for its popular use as a "pine tree" in Bonsai.
Description
The plant is erect or spreads shrubless to 1 m (3 ft). It has woody stems with brown bark, with crossed pairs of leaves. Leaves are green to dark green in color. The plant features terminal inflorescence ending in white flowers that come up in summer. The chromosome number varies: 2n=16, 32, 48. The subspecies are separated geographically, generally with only one subspecies per geographic area.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 in his book ''Species Plantarum
' (Latin for "The Species of Plants") is a book by Carl Linnaeus, originally published in 1753, which lists every species of plant known at the time, classified into genera. It is the first work to consistently apply binomial names and was the ...
'' There are six recognized subspecies, originally named by Tolken, as follows:
*''C. tetragona'' subsp. ''acutifolia'', stems decumbent, rooting at internodes, and sharply acute leaf apices.
*''C. tetragona'' subsp. ''tetragona'', plant with multiple erect branches, and densely flowered inflorescence.
*''C. tetragona'' subsp. ''rudis'', plant with a single main erect branch, but loosely branched inflorescence.
*''C. tetragona'' subsp. ''connivens'', young stems are papillose, rounded flower thyrse
*''C. tetragona'' subsp. ''lignescens'', young stems are smooth, mature stems are woody, leaves relatively small. The most widespread subspecies.
*''C. tetragona'' subsp. ''robusta'', young stems are smooth, stems all carnose, leaves are large and robust. The most commonly cultivated subspecies.
Usage
These plants are usually used as an ornamental, although they are believed to have been used as a medicinal plant by Thunberg, who wrote: "''Crassula tetragona'', somewhat of an stringent nature, boiled in milk, in the quantity of a handful, is used as a remedy for diarrhea."Growth patterns
The plant requires a reasonable amount of water; more water is needed if flower buds are present. Most species prefer full sun, although some sub-species could be sensitive to too much sun. The plant is resistant to frost, but temperatures above (6C) are best. The plant may be propagated from leaves and cuttings. It does not suffer from pests, other than the occasional mealy bug.Crassulas in cultivation, Vera Higgins, 1964, Blandford Press Ltd.References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4450853 tetragona Flora of the Cape Provinces Garden plants of Africa Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus