Origin and Habitat: Namibia and Republic of South Africa (Northern and western Cape).
Altitude: 300 - 1220 m.
Habitat: Grows in the a bushy and dry semi-desert area usually in rocky places in gravel and on outcrops of weathered quartzite.

• Monsonia crassicaulis (S.E.A.Rehm) F.Albers
• Sarcocaulon crassicaule S.E.A.Rehm

Description: It is a perennial, deciduous, succulent shrublet, mainly low-growing, with short, branches, 20-50(-60) cm tall and 50 (or more) cm in diameter. It will drop it's leaves readily during drought periods and leaf and flower when water is available. The plant resembles a small tree and is very suitable for bonsai but always an attractive plant.
Root: Not swollen.
Stem: Main trunk 3-5(-8) cm in diameter at the base branching repeatedly from 3-5 cm above the ground. Branches 1-1,5 cm in diameter, rigid, sparsely spined, which grow mostly horizontally, bark greyish-yellow, brownish or olive-green with a more or less translucent outer covering impregnated with wax which is inflammable and burns with a smoky flame even in green plants, hence the common name.
Spines: Thin, straight or recurved, greyish, rarely more than 30 mm long, base obovate
Leaves: Small, ephemerals, produced only after good rains that are shed in the summer months. This specie produces two type of leaves with long and short petioles, unsegmented, fleshy, leathery, tufted or solitary in the axils of the thorns, greyish-green, broadly elliptic, margin irregularly lobate, crenate or dentate.
Long petioled leaves: (10-)15(-19) mm long by (8-)10(-16) mm wide with petiole persistent, hardening into spines.
Short petioled leaves: With petiole about 1 mm long, blade (6-)15(-20) mm long by (4-)9(-14) mm wide.
Flower: Conspicuous in a saucer shape pale-yellow to white 3-5 cm across (or more), appearing singly. Sepals 5-13 mm long and 3-5 mm wide, hairless or finely hairy. Petals five broad, crinkly textured usually less than 2 cm long. Flower stalk up to 4 cm long
Blooming season: Autumn to spring (mainly in early to late spring).

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Albers F. “Monsonia” in:Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Dicotyledons” Springer Science & Business Media, 2002
2) Jean-André Audissou “The genus Sarcocaulon (De Candolle) Sweet (1826)” CACTUS-AVENTURES International N° 70
3) Moffett R. O. “The genus Sarcocaulon” in Bothalia Vol. 12, N°. 4 (1979) : 581-612.

Cultivation and Propagation: Sarcocaulon crassicaulis is a decorative plant which has the fame to be difficult to care properly in cultivation, however it is relatively easily grown species, very suitable for bonsai. Seed-grown plants thrive and flower prolifically in cultivation while imported specimens rarely produce an extensive new root system and flower sporadically, but survive for many years.
Exposure: They require direct sunlight when in full growth, while a filtered exposition is best during the hottest period of summer, when the plants enter in their dormancy phase. They always grow best in positions where they receive long periods of strong sunlight
Watering: They need to be regularly watered every 6 to 10 days whilst they are in active growth and and producing leaves, occasionally during dormancy. In cultivation it appear best not to let plants go into dormancy and to water year round. Nevertheless even in habitat the Sarcocaulons appear to be opportunistic and respond to precipitation events when they occur. As soon as the foliage starts to show signs of yellowing or withering, water should be withheld. It is very important that there is plenty of free air circulation around cultivated plants and also that they are not overwatered.
Soil: The ideal cultivation medium is very draining with at least 75% of pumice and lava grit.
Propagation: All Sarcocaulon species are readily grown from seeds. Seeds should be sown just under the surface of the soil, in large seed trays or plastic pots. They should be planted out into individual containers when they are about two years old. The most dangerous period for seedling is in summer. They need to be kept dry whilst dormant but at the same time their trunk do not withstand continual drought. The seedlings adapt to the climate where they are grown and develop a vigorous root system.