Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Saxifragales Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Crassulaceae
Genus
Crassula L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne, Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 349 (1907)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Tillaea helmsii Kirk, Stud. Fl. New Zealand 142 (1899)
 Description

Perennial herb forming small to large and extensive, loose to fairly dense mats; stems decumbent, rooting at nodes, ascending at tips, much-branched. Lvs connate at base, 2.3–7 × 0.7–1.6 mm, 0.5–0.8 mm thick, narrowly lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, flattened above, strongly convex below; apex rounded to ± acute. Fls solitary in lf axils, star-like, 4-merous, 3–3.5 mm diam.; pedicels 2–5–(7) mm long, not elongating at fruiting. Calyx lobes 1–1.5 × 0.5–0.6 mm, triangular-ovate, acute or subacute. Petals 1.2–1.8 × 0.8–1 mm, broadly elliptic-ovate, white with pink flush, subacute, somewhat > calyx. Scales c. 0.7 mm long, oblanceolate. Follicles smooth. Seed c. 0.5 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Nov.–Mar.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Kirk,T. 1899: The Students' Flora of New Zealand and the Outlying Islands. Government Printer, Wellington, N.Z.
Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute