Extremely tiny plant. Stems only about 2-6 cm tall, occasionally as much as 10 cm, leaves only 1-3 mm long (can get up to 6 mm long), fleshy, found at the plant's base or on the stems, shape generally ovate (egg-shaped), may have a blunt rounded end or a fine acute tip. The leaves are arranged oppositely, not alternately. The plant is green when new but ages to red or pink. Tiny flower (0.5- 2 mm) borne in leaf axils, usually just one per leaf pair on a pedicel (floral stem) less than 6 mm long. Two or 3 petals and 3 or 4 sepals. Flowers February to May. Annual herb. Found in open areas, in rocky nooks and crannies, and sometimes in vernal ponds (temporary pools that form after a rain and then slowly evaporate).
Crassula connata (Crassulaceae): pygmy stonecrop or pygmy-weed or sand pygmyweed
The development of this key was partially funded through the Geoscience Diversity Enhancement Program (Award #0703798) and through a course of re-assigned time provided by the CSULB Scholarly and Creative Activities Committee. Thanks also to the students in sections of biogeography, introductory physical geography, GDEP, and LSAMP for "test-driving" various editions of this key.