Crassula connata (Ruiz Lopez & Pavon) A. Berger   =Crassula connata var. erectoides   =Crassula erecta   =Tillea erecta   Crassulaceae   (StonecropFamily)                                                           Native & So. America     Pigmy-Weed    Pigmy Stonecrop   Sand Pigmy-Stonecrop

                                       March Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Glabrous, annual herb, tufted, erect, branched, 2-7 cm. high, becoming reddish; lvs. opposite, fleshy, ovate or oblong, connate at base, 1.5-3 mm. long; fls. in axillary bracted clusters; sepals mostly 4, ovate, 1 mm. long; petals lanceolate, slightly shorter; seeds mostly 1 in each carpel.

Habitat:  Common often in great masses in dry places, burns, etc. below 2500 ft.; many Plant Communities in s. Calif; to Ore., Ariz., L. Calif.; Chile.  Feb-May.

Name:  Diminutive of Latin, crassus, thick.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 382).  Latin, erectus, erect.  (Jaeger 94).

General:  Common in the study area.   Photographed on the burn area below Eastbluff.  (my comments).     The whole genus including many perennials has perhaps 250 spp. and is largely of S. Afr.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 382).       Var. erectoides is not mentioned in the Jepson Manual.  (Hickman, Ed.  525).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 525; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 382; Roberts 21.

Photo Ref:  Mar 4 April 1 85 # 6; Mar 2 86 # 5; Mar 95 # 16.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 236.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 12/15/02.

                                            March Photo