Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Crassula natans var. minus (Eckl. & Zeyh.) G.D.Rowley, 40: 53 (1978)
Synonymy:
  • Helophytum natans var. minus Eckl. & Zeyh., Enum. Pl. Afric. Austral. [Ecklon & Zeyher] 288 (1836)
 Description

Glabrous, plant of semi-aquatic habitats. Branches decumbent, filiform up to 100 mm long, sparingly to much-branched. Leaves connate at base, succulent, patent and usually widely spaced, on internodes 3.3–28 mm long, lamina 3.3–7.4×0.5–1.2 mm, 0.5–0.8 mm thick, pinkish-green, pale green or red, linear to oblanceolate, dorsiventrally flattened to ± terete, with 2–3 pairs of minute dark pink hydathodes, apex obtuse or rounded, minutely apiculate, apiculus 0.1–0.3 mm long, caducous; sheath 0.3–0.5 mm long, hyaline. Flowers 4-merous, 1–2(−3) per leaf axil at successive nodes; pedicels 1.4–5.2 mm long, filiform, calyx lobes broadly triangular, 0.2–0.4 mm long, green to yellow–green, distally streaked dark crimson–red, subacute, obtuse or rounded; corolla shortly tubular, 0.3–0.6×0.4–0.6 mm, white tinged pink, petals weakly connate, erect to erecto-patent, 0.5–1.1 mm long mostly white (sometimes distally tinged pink) base prominently streaked magenta, oblanceolate, obtuse or rounded (rarely apiculate); nectary scales 0.4–0.5×0.15–0.25 mm, oblong–cuneate, truncate; stamens 4, filaments 0.1–0.25 mm long, yellow, anthers initially magenta fading to pink at anthesis; ovaries 4, initially obovoid becoming cylindric with age, each with 1 ovule. Follicles 0.49–0.82×0.32–0.60 mm, pale pink when ripe, ovoid, weakly±trigonous, smooth, spreading to strongly recurved, opening along the entire suture; fruiting pedicel elongating at fruit maturation (up to 10 mm long), usually decurved toward soil; seeds 0.6–0.7 mm long, dark brown, glossy, smooth (sometimes faintly longitudinally ridged).

[Reproduced from de Lange et al. (2011, New Zealand J. Bot. 49: 361–366) with permission from The Royal Society of New Zealand.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Townsend, A.J. 2011: Crassula natans var. minus (Crassulaceae) a new trans-Tasman natural weed arrival in northern New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 49(3): 361–366.
Ecklon, C.F.; Zeyher, C.L.P. 1834–1837: Enumeratio Plantarum Africae Australis extratropicae qua collectae, determinatae et expositae. Pt. i, ii (in 1 vol aged contin.).
Ogle, C.C.; de Lange, P.J.; Cameron, E.K.; Parris, B.S.; Champion, P.D. 2021: Checklist of dicotyledons, gymnosperms and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: additional records 2007–2019. Perspectives in Biosecurity Research Series 5: 45–116.
Rowley, G.D. 1879: The Cactus and Succulent Journal of Great Britain 40: 53.