Common names: mud mat

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Could be confused with: Lilaeopsis, Marsilea, Regnellidium.

Native distribution: Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa.

Species commonly cultivated:
Glossostigma diandra (L.) Kuntze (Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa)
G. elatinoides Benth. (Australia, New Zealand)

Adventive distribution: Glossostigma diandra is introduced into the northeastern United States.

Weed status: Not generally considered weedy.

Declared weed warning: see - Glossostigma diandra weed warning [PDF requires Adobe Acrobat® reader to open file] regarding introduction into the United States (USDA-APHIS).

Habit: Small, amphibious, stoloniferous plant, forms dense mats.

Brief description: Annual or perennial. Very small. Stems stoloniferous, creeping, rooted at nodes. Leaves opposite or occasionally whorled, sessile or petiolate, linear to spatulate; margin entire. Inflorescence a minute, solitary flower borne on axillary pedicel; sepal tube bell-shaped, lobes 3-4; petals 5, white to pink or purple. Dispersal by stem fragments or seeds.

Natural habitat: Shallow water and wet ground.

Additional comments: A genus with five species; only two are presently cultivated. Glossostigma elatinoides has four stamens and a four-lobed calyx, while G. diandra has two stamens and a three-lobed calyx. Usually used as a foreground plant in aquaria.