Annual Water Minerslettuce, Dwarf montia
Montia fontana

Family: Montiaceae

What it is like

A small leafy annual herb. The stems often lie along the ground. They can be 30 cm long. It forms roots at the nodes. The leaves are small and fleshy. They are opposite and without stalks. They are broadly sword shaped and can be 2 cm long by 1 cm wide. There are 1-8 flowers in agroup. The seeds are about 1 mm across.

Also put in the family Portulacaceae.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean plant. It grows in winter in southern Australia. It grows in wet locations. In North America it grows from sea level to 3,700 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 4,500 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Congo DR., Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Africa, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Europe, Falklands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macquarie Island, Mediterranean, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North America, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Scandinavia, SE Asia, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The young leaves and stem are eaten raw in salads.

It is enjoyed in Spain and Portugal.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Blinks, Boruja, Corujo, Maruja, Marujina, Morujo, Water blinks, Water brickweed

Synonyms

Claytonia fontana (L.) R. J. Davis; Montia aquatica P. Mitcheli ex Rupr.;