Parakeelya (Calandrinia) > Broad-Leaf Parakeelya (Calandrinia balonensis) ◦
There are about 150 species of the genus Calandrinia, known as parakeelyas, in the world, of which about 74 Calandrinia species are native to Australia. Among these there are some 11 species within the Northern Territory and Central Australia region.
Once classified in the purslane group of plants, family Portulacaceae, they have now been reclassified in the family Montiaceae, genus Calandrinia.
Parakeelyas are small succulent plants with a taproot and short stem, with the leaves mainly at the base of the plant. They have vibrant flowers that are most commonly purple, pink or white (there are other colours in this genus). They can have from 4-11 petals, although most parakeelyas have 5 petals.
With their eye-catching flowers, some species are so similar that they are difficult to tell apart and can only be identified through the number of petals and stamens, as well as other characteristics of the seeds, stamens, and stigmas.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Order: Caryophyllales
- Family: Montiaceae
- Genus: Calandrinia
Footnote & References
- Calandrinia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calandrinia (last visited Mar. 22, 2022).
- Calandrinia, Search by Name, FloraNT, http://eflora.nt.gov.au/search?heading=sNTFlora