White Purslane

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White Purslane - Paul Gullan/Viridans Images

Montia australasica


Spreading fleshy herb with ground-running stems. Long-stalked small white flowers at the ends of branches. Occasionally flowers tinged pink.


Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Former Scientific Name
Neopaxia australasica, Claytonia australasica
Distinctive Features

Succulent long thin leaves shiny with papery edges and sheathing at the base and alternating up the stem.

Biology

Perennial. Sea-level to alpine. Moist to wet areas in grassy wetlands, swamps and creeks, occasionally aquatic.

Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Nov-Mar

Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Portulacaceae
Genus
Montia
Species
australasica

The alpine form has thicker leaves and many more flowers.


Interesting Facts
Similar Species

Water-blinks Montia fontanum is similar but is tiny with inconspicuous pink flowers and does not spread by rhizomes.

Native Status
Native