The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Crassula multicava subsp. multicava

Etymology

Crassula: From the Latin crassus 'thick', meaning 'rather thick'

Common Name(s)

fairy crassula

Authority

Crassula multicava Lem. subsp. multicava

Family

Crassulaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Habitat

Terrestrial.

Features

Glabrous perennial herb; stems prostrate, creeping, sprawling or decumbent, rooting at nodes. Leaves shortly petiolate, sometimes with petioles to 2 cm long, mostly on distal ascending part of stems, not decussate or imbricate except in small rosettes at stem apices, to 45-(55) x 40-(43)mm, broadly ovate, broadly oblong-elliptic, to suborbicular or almost square, flat, entire, green or glaucescent, often suffused with red, especially towards margins, dotted with numerous whitish or reddish hydathodes; base rounded , truncate or subcordate; apex rounded or more or less emarginate. Inflorescence a loose thyrse, to about 10 cm long but very variable in size; main axis with very small bracts. Flowers 5-merous, 8-12 mm diameter, usually 12-numerous, on pedicels slightly < to = flowers. Calyx 1.5-2 mm long; lobes triangular. Carolla star-like, petals free and patent, (4)-5-6 x 1-2 mm, narrowly triangular or triangular-lanceolate, rose to crimson in bud, pale pink inside at anthesis; apex acute. Stamens 3-4 mm long, < carpels. Scales 0.2-0.3 mm long, more or less rectangular (wider than long). Fruits and seeds not seen, but flowers often replaced by small plantlets in inflorescence branch axils. (Webb et al 1988).

Flowering

August, September, October, November, December, January, February

Flower Colours

Red / Pink

Year Naturalised

1959

Origin

South Africa

This page last updated on 25 Mar 2010