Plants of
South Australia
Crassula colorata var. acuminata
Crassulaceae
Dense Stonecrop,
Dense Crassula
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Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
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Hawker
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 4

Prior names

Tillaea sieberana var. acuminata

Tillaea acuminata

Crassula colorata var. tuberculata

Common names

Dense Stonecrop

Dense Crassula

Etymology

Crassula the diminutive of the Latin 'crassus' meaning thick, alluding to the fleshy leaves and branches. Colorata from Latin meaning variegated, alluding to the variegated colour of the plant. Acuminata from Latin meaning tapering to a long point, referring to the follicle (fruiting capsule) which abruptly constrict at the apex into slender style.

Distribution and status

Found scattered across South Australia, growing in a wide range of habitats. Also found in all mainland states. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Annual herb with erect stems to 15 cm long, little branched and mainly from the base. Leaves succulent, lanceolate to 6 mm long and 4 mm wide, slightly but abruptly constricted towards the base; flat to slightly convex above, more or less convex below, green to reddish-brown. Inflorescence in the axils of leaf-like bracts with pale-yellow to red flowers. Flowering between August and November. This variety differs from the other variety found in South Australia by have follicles (fruit capsule) almost cylindrical and slightly laterally compressed, abruptly constricted in the lower third and gradually constricted into a slender style, with a cluster of crustaceous brown tubercles in the lower third but otherwise membranous, whereas Crassula colorata var. colorata has follicles laterally compressed, slightly constricted at the base, gradually constricted into slender styles; smooth, membranous, usually pale. Fruits are small pale brown capsules in clusters along the stems. Seeds are tiny brown ellipsoid seed to 0.4 mm long and 0.2 mm wide, smooth.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between September and December. Collect whole plants that are drying off, turning red-brown with mature fruit-spikes. These will contain very small brown seeds when rubbed with your fingers. Place the plants in a tray and leave to dry for two weeks. Then rub the plants gently by hand or with a rubber bung to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Be very careful as the seeds are very small. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Seed viability is usually.

Seeds stored:
  Hide
LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)		Number
of plants		Date
collected		Collection number
Collection location		Date
stored		% ViabilityStorage
temperature
BGA270,000 (6.4 g)501-Oct-2007RJB74761
South Eastern		19-Sep-200895%-18°C
Location: BGA — the seeds are stored at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, MSB — the seeds are stored at the Millennium Seed Bank, Kew, England.
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.
We acknowledge the contributions of the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre, the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, and the Department for Environment and Water.