White stonecrop
Crassula vaginata

Family: Crassulaceae

What it is like

A succulent herb. It can grow 90 cm high. It forms clumps about 90 cm across. The stem rises from a fleshy swollen tuber. The stem is straight and erect and simple. The leaves are 3-26 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They are narrow. The leaves near the base are the longest. The flowers are in a dense head. This can be 2-22 cm across. The fruit is a follicle with small seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on mountain slopes among rocks and in grassland. It grows up to 2,680 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The roots are ground up and made into porridge.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Crassula abyssinica sensu Britten; Crassula abyssinica var. angolensis Schonl.; Crassula alba sensu Berger; Crassula mannii Hook. f.; Crassula retrorsa Hutch.; Crassula schweinfurthii De Wild.; Sedum vaginatum (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Kuntze;