''Isotoma fluviatilis'', the swamp isotome or blue star creeper, is a small

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

perennial plant A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

in the family Campanulaceae, native to Australia.

Description

This plant often forms a low growing mat. It is usually pubescent or sometimes glabrous and roots at nodes. The deep green leaves are in length and wide. The leaf blade is oblong, elliptic or linear in shape, or the lower leaves may be ovate or obovate in shape. It forms white solitary flowers that are axillary and can be bisexual or unisexual. Capsules form later that are obconical to obovoid in shape and slightly asymmetric. They are usually in length with a diameter. The plant flowers during the summer months between November and March producing a carpet of white-blue five-petalled star-shaped flowers that are ideal as groundcovers in garden beds, rockeries or between paving stones. ''I. fluviatilis'' prefers dappled sunlight or part shade and moist soil. It spreads via runners and is hardy in the US in

zones Zone or The Zone may refer to: Places Climate and altitude zones * Death zone (originally the lethal zone), altitudes above a certain point where the amount of oxygen is insufficient to sustain human life for an extended time span * Frigid zone, ...

6-8. In the UK, it is hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK, and is considered generally pest and disease free.

Classification

The species was first formally described as ''Lobelia fluviatilis'' by the botanist Robert Brown in 1810 in the work ''Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae'' and later reclassified in the genus '' Isotoma'' by George Bentham in 1864 in '' Flora Australiensis''. Several synonyms exist for this species including; ''Laurentia fluviatilis'', ''Enchysia gaudichaudii'' and ''Rapuntium fluviatile''. There are three known

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

: *''Isotoma fluviatilis'' subsp. ''australis'' *''Isotoma fluviatilis'' subsp. ''borealis'' *''Isotoma fluviatilis'' subsp. ''fluviatilis''

Distribution

The species is often found growing in areas of moist sand or in mud along the margins of creeks and streams and seepage areas. It is also found among granite outcrops and wet depressions. It is found in south eastern Australia from southern parts of

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

extending through much of Victoria, through much of

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

, eastern

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

and south eastern

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15600784 fluviatilis Flora of New South Wales Victoria Flora of Queensland Flora of South Australia Plants described in 1864 Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)