Crassulaceae in Southern Africa

Although the family Crassulaceae has a very wide global distribution range, the family has definite areas of high present-day species diversity. These include the southern Africa subcontinent, Mexico, and parts of southwestern North America, Mediterranean Europe, and parts of the Orient. Five of the c. 34 genera recognised in the Crassulaceae are represented naturally in southern Africa. These genera, Adromischus Lem., Cotyledon L., Crassula L., Kalanchoe Adans., and Tylecodon Toelken, are illustrated and briefly discussed with reference to their diversity and distribution ranges in the subcontinent and beyond. To familiarise the reader with the genus-rank diversity in southern African Crassulaceae, a pictorial gallery of southern African genera, excluding Kalanchoe, in the family is presented.