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swamp stonecrop

Scientific Name: Crassula helmsii

Family: Crassulaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Australian Swamp Stonecrop (Crassula helmsii)

Crassula helmsii, commonly known as Australian swamp stonecrop or New Zealand pygmyweed, is a succulent plant that can thrive in both aquatic and semi-terrestrial environments.

Considerations for Pets

  • Crassula helmsii is a succulent.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Crassula helmsii
  • Family: Crassulaceae
  • Synonyms: Tillaea aquatica, Tillaea recurva
  • Common Names: Australian swamp stonecrop, New Zealand pygmyweed, swamp stonecrop, Australian stonecrop, Crassule des tangs (French), Helms Dickblatt

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to Australia (including Tasmania) and New Zealand.
  • Found in aquatic and semi-terrestrial habitats.

Ecological Role

  • Considered a non-native invasive plant in many regions, including the U.K.
  • Known to out-compete native plants, forming dense mats over the water surface.
  • Can negatively impact pond life.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Herbaceous succulent perennial plant.
  • Small creeping plant with narrow succulent leaves.
  • Stems are round, 1 mm thick, and 10-130 cm long, either creeping or floating.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Grazing vertebrates can promote the abundance of invasive swamp stonecrop.

Historical Context

  • Introduced from Tasmania to Britain in 1911.
  • First sold as an oxygenating pond plant in 1927.
  • Banned from sale in some regions after April 2014.

Further Information

  • NBN (National Biodiversity Network) location data.
  • ResearchGate: CEH Information Sheet 12: Crassula helmsii, Australian Swamp Stonecrop.
  • Dave's Garden.
  • Invasive.org.