Phil Bendle Collection:Pratia purpurascens (White root)

Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Pratia
Species: P. purpurascens
Binomial name: Pratia purpurascens
Synonymy: Lobelia purpurascens
Common name: White root, White root lobelia

Pratia purpurascens is a small vigorous, perennial, ground-covering, scrambling herb native to the moist, shady areas of eastern Australia. It was classed as naturalised in New Zealand in 1988 where it is an invasive, running weed of lawns, footpaths and gardens. It can be difficult to eradicate due to its long creeping roots.
Pratia purpurascens has thin hairless stems that are sometimes tinged with purple. It is usually prostrate but can reach 15 cm in height. It spreads by its white fleshy underground rhizomes and by its seeds.
The alternately arranged leaves (>30 mm long, >14mm wide) are elongated, elliptic in shape with a pointed tip. The margins are serrated with a few large forwarded pointing teeth. The leaves are green on top and purple underneath.
Pratia purpurascens flowers from spring through to autumn. They are mostly white, flushed with lavender or pink. Fruit are spherical or egg-shaped (ovoid) and fleshy.

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and Information: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ 

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