Plants of
South Australia
Calandrinia eremaea
Montiaceae
Small Purslane,
Dryland Purslane
Display all 19 images
Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
Enlarge Map
•
Copy Map
Copy Map
Display IBRA region text

Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 15

Prior names

Parakeelya eremaea

Calandrinia pusilla

Common names

Small Purslane

Dryland Purslane

Etymology

Calandrinia named after Jean-Louis Calandrini (1703-1758), a Swiss scientist, professor of mathematics and philosophy. Eremaea from the Greek 'eremites' meaning of the desert, referring to the arid habitat of the species.

Distribution and status

Found across most of South Australia except on Kangaroo Island and the South-east, growing in a range of habitats. Found in all States. Native. Common in South Australia. Uncommon in Tasmania. Common in all the other states.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Alinytjara Wilurara, Eyre Peninsula, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Decumbent annual herb with erect flower stems to 20 cm long. Leaves basal and on the flower stems; alternate, sessile, lanceolate to narrow-elliptic with basal leaves to 5.5 cm long and 0.8 cm wide. Inflorescence erect spike with a few white, pale-pink to purple flowers. Flowering between August and November. Fruits are red-brown ovoid capsules to 5 mm long, with 3 valves. Seeds are dark red-brown reniform seed to 0.5 mm diameter, coppery lustre at maturity with a warty surface. Seed embryo type is peripheral.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between October and January. Collect mature capsules, those that are turning a red-brown colour and contain dark seeds. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for one to two weeks. Then rub the capsules gently by hand to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Seed viability is usually high.

Seeds stored:
  Hide
LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)		Number
of plants		Date
collected		Collection number
Collection location		Date
stored		% ViabilityStorage
temperature
BGA 
MSB		14,000 (0.72 g)
14,000 (0.72 g)		26-Oct-2004DJD20
Gairdner-Torrens		28-Mar-200685%-18°C
BGA 
MSB		8,200 (0.43 g)
8,200 (0.43 g)		50+1-Nov-2005DJD163
Gairdner-Torrens		8-Aug-2006100%-18°C
BGA 
MSB		6,000 (0.23 g)
6,000 (0.23 g)		502-Nov-2005DJD171
Eyre Peninsula		8-Aug-2006100%-18°C
BGA15,400 (0.86 g)8-Sep-2016Waddikee Rocks
Eyre Peninsula		1-Nov-201720%-18°C
Location: BGA — the seeds are stored at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, MSB — the seeds are stored at the Millennium Seed Bank, Kew, England.
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.
We acknowledge the contributions of the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre, the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, and the Department for Environment and Water.