Crassula expansa aka Fragile Crassula

Crassula expansa is a low succulent in the Crassulaceae family. Its native range runs from southern Zimbabwe into South Africa. It grows across many parts of South Africa. These include the Cape provinces, Free State, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal. Kew classes its climate as subtropical. Wild plants grow in wet spots among short grass. Their wider surroundings range from dry Namaqualand to coastal forest. They occur from sea level to about 4,920 feet [1,500 metres].

The plant forms a thin mat with many branches. It reaches about 0.2 feet [0.06 metres] tall. A mat can spread to 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] across. It often lives for several years. Some plants instead complete their lives in one or two years. Slender stems lie along the ground or sometimes scramble. Some stems form roots at their nodes. The root system is fibrous. Stems stay soft, though their bases may become slightly woody. They range from green to reddish and branch in forks.

The fleshy leaves vary greatly in shape and colour. Most are narrow, with a flat upper face. Their lower face is rounded, and their tips taper. Some leaves look more oval or spoon-shaped. Leaves in Namaqualand can be almost round in cross-section. Those farther east tend to become flatter. Leaf colour ranges from dark green to yellow-green, brown, or purple. Some leaves shine, and their edges may turn red. Most lack hairs, though hairy leaves also occur. The leaf bases join slightly around the stem. Leaves lose volume as they dry.

The small flowers appear mainly in midsummer. Scattered blooms can also appear at other times of year. Flowers grow singly in leaf axils or in branched clusters. These clusters can form at the tips of stems. Each flower has five petals and a cup-like, star-shaped outline. The petals are white, sometimes with a red tint. Green or brown sepals sit beneath them. Very fine flower stalks lengthen as the fruits develop. The fruits are follicles with tiny seeds inside. The seeds measure just 0.3–0.4 millimetres long. The species varies in leaf form, stem colour, and flower grouping.