Pratia purpurascens leaf1 (17350584726)

Description:

Description: Native, warm season, perennial, small, much-branched, low-growing herb that branches at the nodes, has acrid milky sap and long white rhizomes. Leaves are 10-25mm long, darkish green above and purplish on the underside, with finely-toothed margins. Flowers are white to pale-purple and solitary on the end of long (10-70mm) stalks; corolla lobes are unequal, lower 3 lobes are oblong-obtuse, 2 upper ones are erect, incurved, and shorter and half as wide as the lower lobes. Flowering is in summer and autumn. Widespread on the coast, tablelands and slopes in moist shady areas of wet eucalypt forest, woodland and grassland. Native biodiversity. Rarely eaten by stock, probably due to acrid sap. Flowers visited by native bees, honey bees and butterflies. Control in gardens requires all of the rhizomes to be removed, as it will regrow from very short segments. Date: 25 February 2009, 06:28. Source: Pratia purpurascens leaf1. Author: Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia.