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Larochea falcata (J.C.Wendl.) Pers.
Syn. Pl. (Persoon) 1: 337. 1805 [1 Apr-15 Jun 1805]
Family: CRASSULACEAE

= Crassula perfoliata var. falcata (J.C.Wendl.) Toelken
J. S. African Bot. 41(2): 115 (1975)

Accepted Scientific Name: Crassula perfoliata var. minor (Haw.) G.D.Rowley
Cact. Succ. J. Gr. Brit. 40(2): 53 (1978)

Larochea falcata (Crassula perfoliata var. falcata) Photo by: Cactus Art
Produces pairs of attractive and interesting sickle shaped grey-green leaves, but a show stopper when the bright red flowers emerge. The flower smells like sweet cinnamon and usually lasts 6-8 weeks. Sometimes they bloom twice a year, and the bees really love the flowers too.

Synonyms:

See all synonyms of Crassula perfoliata
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Accepted name in llifle Database:
Crassula perfoliata L.
Sp. Pl. 1: 282. 1753 [1 May 1753]
Synonymy: 9 Accepted name in llifle Database:
Crassula perfoliata var. coccinea (Sweet) G.D.Rowley
Cact. Succ. J. Gr. Brit. 40(2): 53 (1978)
Synonymy: 4 Accepted name in llifle Database:
Crassula perfoliata var. minor (Haw.) G.D.Rowley
Cact. Succ. J. Gr. Brit. 40(2): 53 (1978)
Synonymy: 9
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Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Airplane Plant, Scarlet Paintbrush, Propeller Plant
DANISH (Dansk): Dampskibsskrue
POLISH ( Polski): Grubosz szablasty

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Crassula perfoliata group

  • Crassula perfoliata L.: (var. perfoliata) is little branched up to 1.3 m high, with lanceolate leaves erect and channelled above. The flowers are small, white and appear in the summer. Distribution: north of Port Elizabeth to Graaff-Reinet and Willowmore.
  • Crassula perfoliata var. coccinea (Sweet) G.D.Rowley: has the red, larger flowers but its leaves are lanceolate-triangular, canaliculate and erect to spreading. Distribution: river valleys between Port Elizabeth and King William's Town.
  • Crassula perfoliata var. falcata (J.C.Wendl.) Toelken: (syn: Crassula perfoliata var. minor) has very peculiar grey-green sickle-shaped leaves that are arranged in overlapping pairs along a usually unbranched stem. Flowers are bright red. Distribution: Eastern Cape.
  • Crassula perfoliata var. heterotricha (Schinz) Toelken: is smaller (40 cm tall) and branched with erect leaves, has small white flowers appearing in the winter. Distribution: Umtata northwards through KwaZulu-Natal and Transvaal to south-east tropical Africa.
  • Crassula perfoliata var. minor (Haw.) G.D.Rowley: is 20-50 cm tall and is rarely branched. The leaves are laterally flattened, falcate, greyish, has larger bright red flowers (rarely , pink or white). Distribution: Willowmore to East London, and north of the Kei River.

26769 frikkie Frikkie Hall
Crassula perfoliata var. falcata (Propeller Plant) flower close-up. (Crassula perfoliata var. falcata) Photo by: Frikkie Hall
1444 andrea Andrea B.
Larochea falcata (Crassula perfoliata var. falcata) Photo by: Andrea B.

26770 frikkie Frikkie Hall
Larochea falcata (Crassula perfoliata var. falcata) Photo by: Frikkie Hall
1438 cactus-art Cactus Art
- Produces pairs of attractive and interesting sickle shaped grey-green leaves, but a show stopper when the bright red flowers emerge. The flower smells like sweet cinnamon and usually lasts 6-8 weeks. Sometimes they bloom twice a year, and the bees really love the flowers too. (Crassula perfoliata var. falcata) Photo by: Cactus Art

26772 frikkie Frikkie Hall
Larochea falcata (Crassula perfoliata var. falcata) Photo by: Frikkie Hall
26771 frikkie Frikkie Hall
It produces spectacular clusters of bright orange-red flowers arranged in dense cymes. (Crassula perfoliata var. falcata) Photo by: Frikkie Hall

1440 cactus-art Cactus Art
Flowers develop in June (In Europe) and are in full bloom in August. Flower heads grow 8 to 12cm wide. (Crassula perfoliata var. falcata) Photo by: Cactus Art
1441 cactus-art Cactus Art
Larochea falcata (Crassula perfoliata var. falcata) Photo by: Cactus Art

Your Photos

by Cactus Art
Photo by Pat (California, USA)
by Cactus Art
Habit at Ulana St Makawao, Maui, Hawaii (USA). February 18, 2011.
by Forest Starr & Kim Starr

by Valentino Vallicelli

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