The most arid region of South Africa adds much of interest to the country’s “green” heritage. Climatic variables of temperature, humidity and wind count among the challenges to the plant species.
Succulence, hairy stems and deep or swollen roots are some of the solutions developed by those successfully adapted to live here under the blaze of the sun. So are leaf size, shape, colour and hairiness.
This plant, Crassula sladenii, is a leaf succulent that thrives in the Richtersveld. Close to the west coast where it grows, the little rain that is received falls in winter. Coastal Richtersveld also gets moisture from occasional fog. This may not sound like much, but it carries plants through hard times. When every micro-drop counts, an organism craving life will seize the tiniest opportunity measurable on a finely calibrated scale (www.sanparks.org).