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Electronic Flora of South Australia species Fact Sheet

Montia fontana

Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 87 (1753)

Synonymy: M. fontana L. var. chondrosperma Fenzl in Ledeb., Fl. Ross. 2:152 (1843).

Common name: Water-blinks.

Description:
Tufted annual herbs with ascending to erect stems, to 20 cm long, sometimes rooting at the nodes; leaves opposite, linear-lanceolate to oblanceolate or spathulate, acute, 1-2 x 0.2-0.4 cm; leaf base dilated, membranous, shortly sheathing the stem.

Pedicels 2-10 mm long, erect in dehisced fruit; sepals suborbicular, 1-1.5 mm long; petals white, obovate to spathulate, unequal, 1.5-2 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide, the short tube split to the base on one side; stamens 3, or rarely 5; style much shorter than the stigmatic arms.

Capsule globose to obovoid, 1-2 mm long, about the same length as the sepals, the valves involute after dehiscence; seeds suborbicular to obovoid, black, dull, tuberculate, 1-1.2 mm diam.

Published illustration: Heywood (1978) Flowering plants of the world, p. 75.

Distribution:  Grows in moist areas along stream margins and wetlands.

  N.S.W.; Vic.

Conservation status: native

Flowering time: Sept. — Nov.


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

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: This is a variable species of which 3 or 4 infraspecific taxa (recognised by some as distinct species) have been distinguished. S. Aust. (and most of the mainland) populations belong to subsp. chondrosperma (Fenzl)Walters with dull tuberculate seeds; the Tas. and Macquarie Island material is subsp. fontana with shiny and almost smooth seeds.

Author: Not yet available


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