Ludwigia palustris

Marsh Purslane at Tharwa, ACT

Ludwigia palustris at Tharwa, ACT - 15 Feb 2017
Ludwigia palustris at Tharwa, ACT - 15 Feb 2017
Ludwigia palustris at Tharwa, ACT - 15 Feb 2017
Ludwigia palustris at Tharwa, ACT - 15 Feb 2017
Ludwigia palustris at Tharwa, ACT - 15 Feb 2017
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Identification history

Ludwigia palustris 10 Mar 2017 MichaelMulvaney
Unidentified 19 Feb 2017 MichaelBedingfield

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Significant sighting

MichaelMulvaney noted:

10 Mar 2017

Marsh Purslane has been recorded in the Brindabella area of NSW but this is the first ACT record. It is a popular aquarium plant and a record of invasiveness elsewhere (but not dramatically so). One we will probably want to control if still having a restricted ACT distribution.

User's notes

Sparsely scattered along the Murrumbidgee River, growing close to the water, in Gigerline Nature Reserve.

8 comments

BettyDonWood wrote:
   19 Feb 2017
No idea. How tall is it?
   19 Feb 2017
It is a prostrate herb, forming a dense mat in the same way as Persicaria prostrata, up to about 10cm at most high. Having seen it here I have found it is relatively common along the river.
BettyDonWood wrote:
   20 Feb 2017
I think you should take a specimen in to the botanic gardens for ID. I have had a quick look in Plantnet at Molluginaceae, Rubiaceae, and Caryophyllaceae, and I don't think it is any of those. I cannot see ant stipules, so I don't think it is Polygonaceae either.
   20 Feb 2017
Thanks Betty, I'll collect a specimen for ANBG.
RussellB wrote:
   23 Feb 2017
This will be a Ludwigia species (Onagraceae), either L. palustris (fruit 2-5 mm long) or L. repens (fruit 5-7 mm long). From the tumb in the photo, I am guessing the first, L. palustris. Both a re naturalised species known from NSW.
BettyDonWood wrote:
   23 Feb 2017
I had not thought of Ludwigia. I don't think either species has been recorded for the ACT. If not, all the more reason to get a specimen to the Botanic Gardens. Ludwigia palustris does not have petals, so if you find any flowers with petals it will be repens, extremely unlikey because it looks as if the nearest it occurs to the ACT is Lane Cove in Sydney.
   23 Feb 2017
Thanks, will do
   22 Mar 2017
Michael Mulvaney's ID of Ludwigia palustris has been confirmed by David Albrecht, Plant Identification and Liaison Officer at Australian National Herbarium.

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Additional information

  • Less than 10cm Plant height

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