Gratiola peruviana | |
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Gratiola peruviana in Kinglake National Park, Australia | |
Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Plantaginaceae |
Genus: | Gratiola |
Species: | G. peruviana
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Binomial name | |
Gratiola peruviana | |
Synonyms | |
Gratiola latifolia R.Br. |
Gratiola peruviana, commonly known as austral brooklime, is a small perennial herb in the family Plantaginaceae. [1] The species is native to South America and Australasia. It grows to between 10 and 30 centimetres high and has pink or white tubular flowers with red-purple stripes inside. [2] These are followed by ovoid capsules that are up to 7mm long. The stem-clasping ovate leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and have shallowly toothed edges. [3]
It occurs in the vicinity of waterbodies in shallow water, mud or dried areas. [3] In South America, the species is native to Peru, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. [4] In Australasia, it occurs in New Zealand and the Australian states of South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. [1] [5] The name has been misapplied to Gratiola pubescens in Western Australia. [6]