Lythrum portula aka Spatulaleaf Loosestrife

Lythrum portula is a small annual in the loosestrife family, Lythraceae. Its common names include water purslane and troed y gywen. Older names include Peplis portula and Peplis pugetii. Its native range covers the Azores, Europe, and northwestern Türkiye. It also grows naturally in northwestern Africa. The RHS confirms that it is native to Britain and Ireland. Kew describes it as a semiaquatic plant of temperate regions.

This plant grows low rather than forming an upright clump. It reaches about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres] in height. Its spread reaches about 1 foot [0.3 metres]. The stems creep across the ground and root as they spread. This gives it a low, spreading form beside water. Its annual life cycle sets it apart from perennial wetland plants. The supplied sources give no species-level details on leaf shape. They also give no description of its fruit or bark.

Flowers appear from June through October, according to Plants For A Future. Each flower has both male and female organs. The evidence does not identify how the flowers receive pollen. Nor does it describe their colour, shape, or size. Its long flowering period spans summer and part of autumn. The sources give no further details about seed development. For propagation, sow seed directly where the plants will grow. Plants For A Future recommends spring or early autumn sowing.

Water purslane grows along muddy edges of pools and puddles. It needs wet soil and can also grow in water. Suitable garden settings include pond margins and bog gardens. It accepts sandy soil, loam, and clay when conditions stay wet. Mildly acid to neutral soil suits it. It dislikes alkaline ground and does not favour lime-rich sites. It can grow in full sun or partial shade. The evidence gives no hardiness zone or winter temperature limit.

People once grew this species for its edible leaves. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Plants For A Future gives its food value a low rating. That source reports no known hazards, but provides no detailed safety assessment. It lists no medicinal uses or other uses. It also reports no weed potential. The supplied evidence names no pests or diseases for this species.