Prostrate perennial with pubescent stems spreading to c. 50 cm long. Leaves broadly obovate to circular, mostly 1.5–3 cm long, 8–15 mm wide, pubescent toward base on lower surface; margins entire; apex often shortly mucronate. Flowers in axillary ovoid spikes, 6–10 mm long; bracts and bracteoles 2–3 mm long; perianth 3.5–5 mm long, the 2 outer abaxial tepals acuminate, spine-tipped, longer than adaxial tepal and inner 2 tepals, all with small woolly tufts toward base; anthers 3–5, staminal cup irregularly toothed at summit, anthers 3–5. Fruit broadly ovate, c. 1.3 mm long. Flowers Mar.–Apr.
MuM, Wim, VVP, VRiv, RobP, MuF, GipP, Gold, NIS, EGU. Naturalised all mainland States. Native to South America. Collected from a railyard at Donald in 1967, and at Irymple near Mildura where first noted in 1970 and since collected from scattered localities elsewhere throughout the state. A troublesome weed in lawns etc. in other States.
Source:
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Amaranthaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 199–215. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
