Limosella australis

R.Br. Austral Mudwort
Prodr.: 443 (1810)
Taxonomic status Accepted
Occurrence status Present
Origin Native
Degree of establishment Native

Semi-aquatic small perennial herb, often stoloniferous. Leaves erect to ascending, usually 1–6 cm long, lamina not differentiated, or oblanceolate and up to 12 mm long and 1–3 mm wide, apex attenuate, base tapered. Pedicels slender, erect in flower, sometimes recurved, usually 8–25 mm long in fruit. Calyx 1.5–2 mm long, red-purple below sinuses between the teeth; corolla c. 2 mm long, white, lobes often purple externally; anthers black, with white pollen. Capsule broad-ellipsoid, 2.2–2.8 mm long, 1.8–2 mm diam., dark brown, sometimes recurved into mud, with curved caducous style 0.8–1.2 mm long. Flowers mostly Aug.–Apr. (when exposed or sometimes when lower parts inundated).

LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, MonT, VAlp. Also WA, SA, NSW, Tas. New Zealand, ?Europe. Widespread in fine silt of rockholes, drying lakes, dams etc., and permanent shallow swamps.

Source:

Barker, W.R. (1999). Scrophulariaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., ‍Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae‍, pp. 483–528. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Updated by: Daniel Ohlsen, 14 Jun. 2017
Limosella australis (hero image) Spinning
Limosella australis (distribution map) Spinning