| Lythrum portula | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Lythraceae |
| Genus: | Lythrum |
| Species: | L. portula |
| Binomial name | |
| Lythrum portula | |
| Synonyms | |
Peplis portulaL. | |
Lythrum portula is a species of flowering plant in the loosestrife family known by the common names water-purslane [1] and spatulaleaf loosestrife. [2] It is native to Europe, and it is found in parts of western North America as an introduced species. It often grows in moist habitat, such as marshes.
This is a prostrate annual herb producing a hairless, reddish stem up to 25 centimeters long, which lies along the ground and roots where its nodes come in contact with wet earth. The slightly fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves are about a centimeter long and greenish to reddish in color. Solitary flowers occur in leaf axils. Flowers often have white or pink petals about a millimeter long, but some lack petals. The fruit is a spherical capsule containing minute seeds.