Crassula natans, commonly known as floating pigmyweed,[1] is a herb in the family Crassulaceae.[2]

Floating pigmyweed
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Crassula
Species:
C. natans
Binomial name
Crassula natans

The annual herb is often found in an aquatic environment. It blooms between July and November producing white-pink flowers.[2] The plant has decumbent filiform branches that are around 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length and are often multi-branched when growing in marshy area, or slender floating branches up to 25 cm (9.8 in) in length. It has linear shaped leaves linear approximately 8 millimetres (0.31 in) long and 1 mm (0.039 in) wide in marsh plants, or for floating plants with a length of 14 mm (0.6 in) and a width of 2 mm (0.079 in).[3]

The plant is endemic to the wetlands of Cape Fold area of the Western Cape region of South Africa.[4] It has become naturalised in Western Australia where it is found in winter wet depressions and in gullies and lakes in the Great Southern, Wheatbelt, South West and Peel regions.[2] It is also found throughout southern South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Floating Pigmyweed Crassula natans". iNaturalist. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Crassula natans". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. ^ a b "Crassula natans var. minus (Crassulaceae) Floating Crassula". Seeds of South Australia. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  4. ^ Will Darwall; D. Tweddle; K. Smith & P. Skelton (2009). The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in Southern Africa. IUCN. ISBN 9782831711263.