Small Purslane

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©Photo: (CC BY 2.5 AU) N Thomas via natureshare.org.au, Photo: (CC BY 2.5 AU) N Thomas via natureshare.org.au, Photo: (CC BY 2.5 AU) Chris Lindorff via natureshare.org.au

Calandrinia eremaea

Succulent prostrate herb to 30 cm in length, often with pink stems. Leaves to 5 cm long often more or less rosette at base and absent from the almost stalkless smooth stems. Three to seven flowers on erect to spreading, branching stalk to 20 cm, each with 5 white, pink to purple petals.

Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Other Common Names
Twining Purslane
Distinctive Features

Succulent prostrate herb to 30 cm with white, pink to purple flowers with five petals.
Biology

Annual. Grows in a range of habitats, but mostly scattered in mild to warm, relatively dry areas, can be abundant after fire or other disturbance, on sand or shallow soils.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Aug-Oct
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Portulacaceae
Genus
Calandrinia
Species
eremaea

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

The genus was named for Jean Louis Calandrini, an 18th century Swiss botanist. It includes around 150 species. Both the leaves and seeds may have been used as food source by Aboriginal people. Listed as threatened in Tas.

Interesting Facts
Native Status
Native