Crassula helmsii

Crassula helmsii, known as swamp stonecrop or New Zealand pigmyweed,^[1] is an aquatic or semiterrestrial species of succulent plant in the family Crassulaceae.^[2] Originally found in Australia and New Zealand, it has been introduced around the world. In the United Kingdom, this plant is one of five introduced invasive aquatic plants that were banned from sale from April 2014, the first ban of its kind in the country.^[3] It is on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility's Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species of eleven countries.^[4]

Swamp stonecrop
Leaves and flowers of C. helmsii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Saxifragales
Family:	Crassulaceae
Genus:	Crassula
Species:	C. helmsii
Binomial name
Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne
Synonyms
Tillaea recurva Tillaea helmsii Crassula recurva

Description

The shoots are rather stiff, carrying narrow parallel-sided leaves in opposite pairs, each leaf being about 4–24 millimetres (0.16–0.94 in). Small white flowers with four petals are produced in summer on long stalks arising from the upper leaf axils. The flowers are always above water.^{[citation needed]}

Distribution

C. helmsii was recorded in 2010 throughout the British Islaes, in Holland, Belgium, United States, Russia, France, Germany, Italy and Spain^[2] In Ireland, C. helmsii has been recorded on waste ground in Ireland at Howth Head, County Dublin,^[5] and at a number of sites in Northern Ireland.^[6]

Ecological aspects

The plant grows on the muddy margins of ponds where it forms carpets with 100% cover, semi-submerged in deeper water, or totally submerged with elongated stems. It does not die back in winter.^[6] It has been reported to be very tolerant to copper toxicity^[7] and to be a hyperaccumulator of copper.^[8]

Cultivation

C. helmsii is able to grow fully submerged in a cool-water aquarium or as a submersed or marginal plant in a pond. Once established it can grow vigorously and may need to be trimmed back. Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 lists this plant as one that must not be caused to grow in the wild.^[9]