This little Crassula, which belongs to the section Pryamidella, is, as pointed out by Dr. Schonland, closely allied to C. columnaris, Thunb., but the shape of the leaves is sufficient to distinguish it from the latter species. It was described almost simultaneously by Mr. N. E. Brown and Dr. Schonland, but as Brown’s description was the first to be published we retain his name for the species.
Crassula congesta appears to be confined to the Matjesfontein and Laingsburg Divisions in the Karroo, and at present we have no records of the species outside these two Divisions.
We are indebted to Mr. A. J. Austin of Matjesfontein for living specimens which flowered at the Division of Botany in July 1922.
Description:—Plant succulent, about 9 cm. high. Stem glabrous. Leaves 1·7 cm. long, up to 2·7 cm. broad, decussate, connate, transversely oblong, convex without, concave within, glabrous. Heads many flowered, 2·5 cm. in diameter. Receptacle convex. Floral-bracts ·5 mm. long, ·75 mm. broad, linear, obtuse; ciliated, membranous. Calyx-tube 1 mm. long, glabrous, membranous; lobes 2·5 mm. long, ·5 mm. broad, linear, obtuse, ciliate. Corolla-tube 3·5 mm. long, membranous; lobes 5 mm. long, ·75 mm. broad, linear, obtuse. Filaments 2 mm. long, filiform; anthers 1·25 mm. long, oblong. Squamae 1 mm. long, spatulate and produced into a long claw. Carpels 2·5 mm. long, tapering from the base upwards; stigma simple. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2602.)
[Plate 115.]—Figs. 1, 2, leaf and section of leaf; 3, single flower; 4, corolla opened; 5, sepal; 6, bract; 7, scale; 8, carpels showing scales.
F.P.S.A., 1923.