Callitriche antarctica

Engelm. ex Hegelm

Water-starwort

PlantaginaceaeLeaves
Callitriche antarctica
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Alex Fergus, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alex Fergus
Callitriche antarctica
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Alex Fergus, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alex Fergus
Callitriche antarctica
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Ester Serrao, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ester Serrao

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

The leaves have been eaten historically to prevent scurvy.

Where to Find It

A cool temperate plant. It grows in running water and wet land.

Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Falklands, Macquarie Island, South America, Tasmania,

Countries: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

How to Identify

A herb. The stems can be erect or lie over. The leaves are 3-5 mm long by 1-3 mm wide.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Callitriche antarctica, commonly known as the Antarctic water-starwort, is a small, prostrate plant with tiny yellow flowers in the family Plantaginaceae (though sometimes placed in its own family – Callitrichaceae). It is found in wet places on many subantarctic islands and has a wide circumantarctic distribution, something reflected in its specific epithet.

Notes

There are 25-75 Callitriche species. Also put in the family Callitrichaceae.

References (3)
  • Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A., and Seberg, O. 2007, Flowering Plant Families of the World. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. p 80
  • Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 101
  • Upson, R., & Lewis R., 2014, Updated Vascular Plant Checklist and Atlas for the Falkland Islands. Falklands Conservation and Kew.

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