Crassula natans, commonly known as floating pigmyweed,[1] is a herb in the family Crassulaceae.[2]
| Floating pigmyweed | |
|---|---|
Scientific 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
edit- ^ "Floating Pigmyweed Crassula natans". iNaturalist. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ a b c "Crassula natans". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b "Crassula natans var. minus (Crassulaceae) Floating Crassula". Seeds of South Australia. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ Will Darwall; D. Tweddle; K. Smith & P. Skelton (2009). The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in Southern Africa. IUCN. ISBN 9782831711263.