PYRAMIDALIS Thunberg, 1778 (engl./ fr.)
Synonyms :
Purgosea pyramidalis (Thunberg) G.Don (1834) / Tetraphyle pyramidalis (Thunberg) Ecklon & Zeyher (1837)
Tetraphyle quadrangula Ecklon & Zeyher (1837) / Crassula quadrangula (Ecklon & Zeyher) Endlicher ex Walpers (1843) / Tetraphyle pyramidalis var. quadrangula (Ecklon & Zeyher) P.V.Heath (1993)
Crassula pyramidalis var. ramosa Schönland (1911)
Crassula cylindrica Schönland (1929) / Tetraphyle pyramidalis var. cylindrica (Schönland) P.V.Heath (1993)
Crassula archeri Compton (1931) / Tetraphyle pyramidalis var. archeri (Compton) P.V.Heath (1993)
Section Columnares
Distribution : SA (Western Cape, Eastern Cape)
Description (by E. van Jaarsberg in IHSP, 2003) :
Erect to decumbent, sparingly branched, to 12 (-25) cm tall but variable in size.
Roots fibrous, internodes completely covered by the tightly clasping imbricate leaves in 4 ranks forming a neat quadrangular oblong body to ± 12 mm in diameter, tapering at the obtuse tip.
Leaves green to brownish-green, triangular-ovate, 3 – 12 x 4 – 8 mm, flat, ascending, margin entire, tip bluntly acute.
Inflorescences dense terminal rounded cymose capitula, the basal part partly hidden by the leaves.
Flowers : Sepals to 5 mm, oblong-oblanceolate, margin ciliate, tips obtuse, corolla tubular, ampulliform, to 14 mm, white or cream, petals oblong elliptic, fused in the lower 1/3, tips with a blunt beak, anthers yellow.
Cytology : 2n = 14, 28
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Synonymes :
Purgosea pyramidalis (Thunberg) G.Don (1834) / Tetraphyle pyramidalis (Thunberg) Ecklon & Zeyher (1837)
Tetraphyle quadrangula Ecklon & Zeyher (1837) / Crassula quadrangula (Ecklon & Zeyher) Endlicher ex Walpers (1843) / Tetraphyle pyramidalis var. quadrangula (Ecklon & Zeyher) P.V.Heath (1993)
Crassula pyramidalis var. ramosa Schönland (1911)
Crassula cylindrica Schönland (1929) / Tetraphyle pyramidalis var. cylindrica (Schönland) P.V.Heath (1993)
Crassula archeri Compton (1931) / Tetraphyle pyramidalis var. archeri (Compton) P.V.Heath (1993)
Section Columnares
Distribution : Afrique du Sud (Cap-Occidental, Cap-Oriental).
Description (par E. van Jaarsberg dans IHSP, 2003) :
Plante érigée à décombante, modérément ramifiée, haute de 12 (-25) cm mais variable en taille.
Racines fibreuses, entre-nœuds complètement couverts par les feuilles imbriquées étroitement serrées en 4 rangées formant un corps oblong nettement quadrangulaire d'un diamètre de ± 12 mm, s'affinant en un apex obtus.
Feuilles vertes à vert-marron, triangulaires-ovales, 3 – 12 x 4 – 8 mm, plates, ascendantes, marge entière, extrémité bien aiguë.
Inflorescences en denses capitules cymeux terminaux arrondis, à base partiellement cachée par les feuilles.
Fleurs : Sépales atteignant 5 mm, oblongs-oblancéolés, marge ciliée, extrémité obtuse, corolle tubulaire, ampullacée, jusqu'à 14 mm, blanche ou crème, pétales oblongs-elliptiques, soudés dans le tiers inférieur, extrémité avec un bec émoussé, anthères jaunes.
Cytologie : 2n = 14, 28
See also : Crassula pyramidalis by Rudolf Schulz
Plants in habitat / Plantes dans l'habitat :
![](/img/500/237f4d67599a182afbb3dbd03e1e11ad_10140.jpg)
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![](/img/500/a67b4b7fe217aa2510daf29e0fc14e63_3628.jpg)
Cederberg mountain range near Ceres in South Africa's Western Cape
The extremely dwarf form well known from this area. The little stems are no more than 12 mm tall:
Massif du Cederberg, près de Ceres (Cap-Oriental), proche de la réserve naturelle de Kagga Kamma.
La forme extrêmement naine et bien connue de cette région ; la tige, petite, ne dépasse pas 12 mm de haut :
![](/img/500/bce81374dbe8cfd72f35177eacd2ffe1_cp.jpg)
Photos Etwin Aslander
Kagga Kamma :
![](/img/500/ca6ab34cfcc15e5eab2a91bf3927930f_pyramidalis kagga kamma (2).jpg)
![](/img/500/305ac3784160da5006b2048cc5ef54fe_pyramidalis kagga kamma (3).jpg)
![](/img/500/4788802fd0a94f588e3c847a496002e0_pyramidalis kagga kamma (4).jpg)
![](/img/500/e1c98e6a372d887e867546d41bc004ec_pyramidalis kagga kamma.jpg)
Groot Doringrivier :
![](/img/500/c89bcbf0beaca9c24422a9cddf072fe9_pyramidalis groot-doringrivier (2).jpg)
![](/img/500/c8b643792e946b35d3947c595b95c0ee_pyramidalis groot-doringrivier.jpg)
Katbakkies Pass :
![](/img/500/a9816af5f45e72c7b1609e20a079801f_pyramidalis katbakkies pass.jpg)
Skittery Kloof :
![](/img/500/726ee84faeef9f190574bb428585676e_pyramidalis w skittery kloof.jpg)
Photos Chris Rodgerson
Rietfontein, Ladismith :
![](/img/500/7ba72c31817f6f9cc82465a61c654341_pyramidalis rietfontein, ladismith (marc).jpg)
![](/img/500/575a23ff150ec803e9204018a9c08377_pyramidalis rietfontein, ladismith (marc).jpg)
Roinek Pass :
![](/img/500/59a2b3ef96da3252f4b77d508c733ffa_pyramidalis roinek pass (marc).jpg)
Photos Marc Mougin
In cultivation :
![](/img/500/929359ad5a934f08a2074415ef6976c6_2015-01-26_152844.jpg)
Selecta Succulents
Photo Jacquie Koutsoudis
![](/img/500/09ea27532606707e09c4e72c2f3dda86_9205.jpg)
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Plant / Plante : Weltevrede Succulent Nursery, South Africa
Photos Jacquie Koutsoudis
![](/img/500/ea832eac5b43de75de4f1fa886432e4b_7486.jpg)
![](/img/500/748f10591cc9b0cd6fdab7f751bba280_img_1192.jpg)
Photo Paola Volker
![](/img/500/aaef0872420b50d94b4fffe76c4700e4_7487.jpg)
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![](/img/500/2c73a396f6148fa17e0c63f015315ecb_c-pyramidalis-2.jpg)
Photo Margrit Bischofberger
![](/img/500/cb7b024941fd2acc5b4a0e7e1d251e3a_8225.jpg)
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Photos Noelene Tomlinson
Crassula pyramidalis is a quite variable plant :
Crassula pyramidalis est une plante très variable :
![](/img/500/77b962f1ac6ef1de1489b84af457ce75_3742.jpg)
![](/img/500/baaceb8cace81ddca35220dc20135a3c_3745.jpg)
A 6 angled form / Forme à 6 angles :
![](/img/500/699db724bdd9a559e4d741ec46624c0f_3746.jpg)
The leaves with ciliate margins of the two latter forms are in fact the bracts of an emerging inflorescence, the leaves below have no cilia, that means the plants are going to flower.
6 or 5 angled stems appear among normal angled stems but then usually produce normal 4 angled stems when branching. They are not stable.
Les feuilles avec marges ciliées de ces deux dernières formes sont en fait les bractées d'une inflorescence naissante, les feuilles du dessous n'ont pas de cils : les plantes se préparent à fleurir.
Des tiges à 5 ou 6 angles apparaissent parmi les tiges normales, mais elles ne sont pas stables et produisent ensuite des tiges à 4 angles.
Photos Michel Gillet.
And there is even a variegated form :
Il existe aussi une forme variegata :
![](/img/500/f066718ffb3f4c8ada6cbc7156538b4d_3714.jpg)
Photo by Laurent