Prostrate, glabrous or glabrescent annual with stems to c. 30 cm long. Leaves opposite, or clustered, shortly petiolate, lamina obovate to oblanceolate, 4–20 mm long, 2–6 mm wide. Flowers in leaf-opposed clusters of c. 3–6. Perianth segments ovate, c. 3 mm long, ± glabrous, green, sometimes tinged pink; stamens 3–5, staminodes absent; styles 3. Capsule 3-locular, ellipsoid, ± equal to perianth segments. Seeds reniform, c. 0.5 mm long, red-brown and tuberculate in rows; caruncle slightly inflated. Flowers mainly Feb.–May.
MuM, Wim, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, CVU, NIS. All mainland States. South Africa, Asia. Rather uncommon in Victoria, occurring on drying beds of watercourses and lakes, mostly near the Murray River and its major tributaries (e.g. Mildura, Hattah, Barmah, Tocumwal, Chltern), but with more southerly occurrences in the west near Edenhope and Dimboola.
Source:
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Molluginaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 225–228. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
