Species

Crassula moschata

Etymology

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

Common Name(s)

shore stonecrop

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Crassula moschata G.Forst.

Family

Crassulaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

CRAMOS

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Tillaea moschata (G.Forst.) DC.

Distribution

Indigenous. In New Zealand common from the south Wellington coastline south, including the Chathams and other subantarctic islands. Also reported from Mayor Island (Bay of Plenty). Common in southern Chile, Argentina, The Falklands. Uncommon in Australia

Habitat

Strictly coastal. On wave washed rock platforms, reefs, coastal cliffs faces, and damp peaty seepages and tidal creeks - always within the influence of salt spray.

Features

Perennial herb forming small to very large and extensive loose or dense mats, sometimes several metres in diameter; stems decumbent, rooting at nodes, ascending at tips, much-branched. Leaves connate at base, very variable, 2.0-12.0 × 1.2-3.4 mm, c.0.7 mm thick, narrowly oblong-spathulate or narrowly oblong-elliptic, sometimes elliptic, flattened above, weakly convex beneath; apex obtuse. Flowers solitary in leaf axils, star-like, sweetly fragrant, 4-merous, 4-6 mm diameter; pedicels 1-3 mm long at anthesis, not elongating at fruiting. Calyx lobes 1.0-1.8 × 0.5-0.6 mm, ovate or triangular-ovate, obtuse. Petals 2.0-3.5 × 1.2-1.7 mm, broadly obovate-elliptic to suborbicular, white or white with pink flush towards base, obtuse, much > calyx. Scales 0.8-0.9 mm long, oblong-cuneate to almost linear and only slightly wider towards apex. Follicles smooth. Seeds 0.5-0.7 mm long

Flowering

Throughout the year

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,White

Fruiting

Throughout the year

Propagation Technique

Easy from rooted pieces and stem cuttings. Does best in damp soils in semi-shade, except in cool climates.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 28

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Minute follicles are dispersed by wind and water and possiblty also by attachment (Thorsen et al., 2009).

Attribution

Description modified from Webb et al. (1988).

References and further reading

Webb, C.J.; Sykes, W.R.; Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. DSIR Botany Division, Christchurch.

This page last updated on 4 Dec 2014