Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 1:332 (1753).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Prostrate annual herbs, stems up to 40 cm long; branches sparsely to densely puberulent or glabrous, hairs incurved to spreading, internodes 3-14 mm long; leaves 2-6 mm long; leaf bases narrow, medially somewhat thickened, narrowing markedly at the distal end, 1-2 mm long, 0.2-0.4 mm wide at the distal end, subcylindrical above, flattening toward the base and the margins; leaf blades obovate or oblong-elliptic, flattened, 1.2-2.8 mm wide; margins slightly to gradually revolute, not strongly thickened; mid-vein narrow, linear, inconspicuous to occasionally somewhat abaxially raised, occupying less than half the exposed abaxial surface; surfaces a greyish yellow-green, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface puberulent with spreading to appressed incurved hairs.

Flowers borne in terminal or axillary dichasia, often highly branched, or sometimes solitary in axils, subtended by whorls of 4 leaf-like floral bracts; calyces 2.5-4 mm long, 1-1.3 mm wide, tubular, centres of ribs glabrous, margins and grooves glabrous to lightly puberulent, hairs spreading to lightly curved, lobes 5, spreading, petals 5, spathulate, 2.5-5 mm long; stamens 6, in 2 subequal whorls, 1.7-3 mm long; styles 2-2.3 mm long; style-branches 3, 0.5-1 mm long; stigmas terminally oblique, terete, 0.5-0.7 mm long; ovaries with 3 parietal placentae, 0.7-1 mm high, extending up the lower one-half to three-quarters of the ovary wall; ovules c. 25-60, attached along the entire placenta by erect funicles.

Capsules c. 20-60-seeded, seeds 0.4-0.5 mm long.

Distribution:  This species, a European native, is introduced in Australia, where it is of sporadic occurrence and has usually been collected on saline soils S.Aust.: NL, MU, YP, SL.   N.S.W.; Vic.   Norfolk Island, Europe, Africa, Asia, India and North and South America. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Sept. — Dec., April.

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