Crassula tetragona
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| Crassula tetragona | ||||||||||||||
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| Crassula tetragona (Linnaeus, 1753) |
Crassula tetragona is a succulent plant native to Southern Africa. It is widely distributed from the Orange River boundary of Namaqualand to beyond the Kei River in the Eastern Cape. This species could have been introduced in 1711, but accounts are not clear. "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.
[edit] Habit and general description
Erect or spreading 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.
Terminal inflorescence ending in white flowers that come up in summer.
The chromosome number varies 2n=16, 32, 48.
The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 in his book Species Plantarum[1] There are six recognized subspecies, originally named by Tolken, as follows:
- C. tetragona acutifolia
- C. tetragona tetragona
- C. tetragona rudis
- C. tetragona connivens
- C. tetragona lignescens
- C. tetragona robusta
The subspecies are separated geographically, generally with only one subspecies per geographic area.
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 diarrhoea."[2]
[edit] General care
Reasonable water, more water is needed with flower buds present, less water if no flower buds.
Full sun, although some sub-species could be sensitive to too much sun. Resistant to frost, temperatures above 40F (6C) are best.
May be propagated from leaves, although if a mature plant is wanted fast, a cutting can be used as well.
It does not suffer from pests, but the occasional mealy bug should simply be removed if found. Spraying with insecticide should be avoided, as this can burn the leaves.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Linnaeus, C.F. 1753 Species Plantarum.
- ^ Crassula, a grower's guide, Gordon Rowley, 2003. ISBN 88-900511-1-6
- ^ Crassulas in cultivation, Vera Higgins, 1964, Blandford Press Ltd.
