Citation: Thunb., Prod. Pl. Cap. 54 (1794) var. minus (Ecklon & Zeyher)Rowley, Cactus Succ. J. Gt Brit. 40:53 (1978).

Synonymy: Helophytum natans (Thunb.)Ecklon & Zeyher var. minus Ecklon & Zeyher, Enum. Pl. Afr. Aust. Extratrop. 288 (1836).

Common name: None

Description:
Annuals with decumbent filiform branches to 10 cm long and often much branched when growing on a marshy substrate, or slender floating branches to 25 cm long and rarely branched; leaves linear, rarely linear-elliptic, 3-8 x 0.5-1 mm in marsh plants, or 5-14 x 1-2 mm in plants with floating branches, obtuse to rarely acute when young, dorsiventrally flattened and slightly fleshy at least in marsh plants, green to a pale reddish-brown.

Inflorescence a monochasium with single flowers (rarely 2 or 3 in marsh plants) in the axils of the leaf-like bracts, with pedicels 2-5 mm long when fruiting; flowers 4-merous; calyx lobes broadly triangular, 0.2-0.3 mm long, obtuse, glabrous, slightly fleshy, green to pale-brown; corolla more or less cup-shaped, white; lobes oblanceolate, 0.6-0.8 mm long, acute to obtuse, spreading; nectary scales oblong-cuneate, truncate, first abruptly later gradually constricted towards the base, slightly fleshy, yellow or red; ovaries obovoid to almost obconical, abruptly constricted into short styles, with 1 ovule.

Follicles smooth, erect to slightly recurved, splitting and opening along the whole suture.

Distribution:  Grows in marshy soil in or around standing water.   W.Aust. (southwestern section); Vic. (western section); islands north of Tas.   native to the south-western Cape of South Africa. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Aug. — Nov., but may continue as long as moisture is available.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available