| Gratiola peruviana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gratiola peruviana in Kinglake National Park, Australia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Gratiola |
| Species: | G. peruviana |
| Binomial name | |
| Gratiola peruviana | |
| Synonyms | |
Gratiola latifoliaR.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]
