Antarctic water

Description

Callitriche antarctica, commonly known as the Antarctic water-starwort, is a small, prostrate plant with tiny yellow flowers in the plantainfamily (though sometimes placed in its own family – Callitrichaceae). It is found in wet places on many subantarctic islands and has a wide circumantarctic distribution, something reflected in its specific epithet.The starwort is a prostrate, mat-forming herb, with freely branched stems, rooting at the nodes. It has a similar appearance to watercress. The small, fleshy, spathulate leaves are usually 3–5 mm long and 1–2.5 mm wide. Flowering occurs from September to March. The yellowish to dull brown fruits are about a millimetre in diameter.