Species:
	Crassula ruamahanga
Threat Status:
	Naturally Uncommon
Status 2004:
	Sparse
Authority:
	Crassula ruamahanga A.P.Druce
Family:
	Crassulaceae
Flora Category:
	Vascular - Native
Synonyms:
	Tillaea acutifolia Kirk, Crassula acutifolia (Kirk) A.P.Druce et D.R.Given non. Crassula acutifolia Lam.; Crassula hunua A.P.Druce; Tillaea pusilla Kirk var. pusilla, Tillaea pusilla var. brevia Kirk, Crassula pusilla A.P.Druce et D.R.Given non C. pusilla Schönland
Distribution:
	Endemic. Uncommon, known from historic and extant records from Wairoa River near Dargaville south to Stewart Island and including Chatham Island. In the North Island most common in the Wairarapa, and in the South Island on the Southland plains
Habitat:
	Sea level to lowland (rarely lower montane) (0-500 m a.s.l.). An opportunistic species which can be expected to occur in any suitably damp, open habitat. It has been collected from near estuarine conditions through to leaking pipes in urban centres, gravel foot paths, and bowling green turf. Its favoured habitat seems to be river sides and muddy hollows and pools within lowland alluvial forest.
Features:
	Perennial herb form small to large diffuse to dense bright green mats. Stems green or pink, prostrate, rooting at nodes, with ascending tips, much-branched. Leaves fused at base, 1.3-8 x 0.4-1.5 mm, 0.2-0.6 mm thick, lanceolate, linear-lanceolate or elliptic lanceolate, flattened or slightly concave above, convex beneath, apex usually sharply acute, shortly acuminate or apiculate, sometimes obtuse. Flowers solitary in leaf axils, scarcely fragrant, stellate, 4-merous, 1.8-2.5 mm diam.; pedicels 0.5-1 mm, scarcelty elongating at fruiting, Calyx lobes 0.8-1 x 0.4-0.6 mm, triangular or triangular-ovate, white or pink-flushed, acute, sharply acute, occasionally obtuse, slightly or much > calyx. Scales 0.5 mm long, cuneate. Follicles smooth. Seed 0.5 mm long.
Similar Taxa:
	Crassula hunua A.P.Druce, from which it is only doubtfully distinct. From that species it is best distinguished by the acute tipped leaves and petals, persistent presence of a leaf apiculus, and generally by the sepal length exceeding the petals. However these characters seem to intergrade with C. hunua.
Flowering:
	Flowers may be present throughout the year
Fruiting:
	Flowers may be present throughout the year
Propagation Technique:
	Easy from rooted pieces, stem cuttings and seed. Can become a troublesome weed in damp soils and shaded sites, but makes an excellent ground cover or lawn on poorly drained soils. Flowers are sweetly scented.
Threats:
	Competition from other plants. Habitat destruction through heavy stock use, by cattle in particular.
Chromosome No.:
	2n = 42,64,70,84,90
Endemic Taxon:
	Yes
Endemic Genus:
	No
Endemic Family:
	No

Where To Buy
Oratia Native Plant Nurseries (Can be purchased from Oratia Native Plant Nurseries (info@oratianatives.co.nz)

Cultural Use/Importance
Crassula hunua is now included within C. ruamahanga (see: de Lange, P.J.; Heenan, P.B.; Keeling, D.J.; Murray, B.G.; Smissen, R.; Sykes, W.R. 2007: Biosystematics and Conservation: A Case Study with Two Enigmatic and Uncommon Species of Crassula from New Zealand. Annals of Botany 294.)

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Last updated: 18 Jan 2010