''Hemichroa pentandra'', commonly known as trailing hemichroa, trailing saltstar or trailing jointweed, is a prostrate perennial

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

in the

amaranth ''Amaranthus'' is a cosmopolitan genus of annual or short-lived perennial plants collectively known as amaranths. Some amaranth species are cultivated as leaf vegetables, pseudocereals, and ornamental plants. Catkin-like cymes of densely pack ...

family. It is endemic to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. A

succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

halophyte, it grows to about 10 cm in height and 30 cm wide. It has tiny, inconspicuous white flowers, surrounded by papery bracts, which grow in the angle between the stem and the 12 mm long leaves. It is found in coastal salt marshes and around

salt lake A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water that has a concentration of salts (typically sodium chloride) and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes (often defined as at least three grams of salt per litre). ...

References

Amaranthaceae Succulent plants Halophytes Flora of Victoria (state) Flora of Western Australia Flora of South Australia Flora of Tasmania {{Amaranthaceae-stub