About Gratiola peruviana L.
Gratiola peruviana, commonly called austral brooklime, is a small perennial herb belonging to the Plantaginaceae family. It is native to both South America and Australasia. This plant grows 10 to 30 centimetres tall, and produces pink or white tubular flowers that have red-purple stripes on their inner surfaces. After flowering, it forms ovoid capsules that reach up to 7 millimetres in length. Its stem-clasping, ovate leaves grow in opposite pairs, and have shallowly toothed margins. It grows near waterbodies, found in shallow water, mud, or dried areas adjacent to water. In South America, its native range covers Peru, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. In Australasia, it grows in New Zealand, as well as the Australian states of South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. In Western Australia, the name Gratiola peruviana has been incorrectly used for the species Gratiola pubescens.
