Island purslane (Koenigia islandica, Mant. Pl.: 35 (1767))

Family: Polygonaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Mant. Pl.: 35 (1767)

Year: 1767

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Koenigia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Subarctic to WC. U.S.A., S. Chile to S. Argentina

Description

Island Purslane

Island purslane, scientifically known as Koenigia islandica, is a fascinating plant belonging to the Polygonaceae family. First described in 1767 by the botanist Carl Linnaeus, this tiny but resilient species is noteworthy for its extensive range and adaptability to various climates and environments.

Found predominantly in subarctic regions, Koenigia islandica extends its habitat from the western-central parts of the United States down to the southernmost stretches of South America, including southern Chile and Argentina. This wide distribution underscores the plant’s hardiness and its ability to thrive in diverse and often harsh conditions.

Island purslane typically flourishes in moist, boggy areas. Its ecological adaptability allows it to occupy both lowland and montane regions, often favoring environments that hover near the freezing point. This resilience to cold and varying moisture levels ensures the plant’s survival across a vast geographic span.

The island purslane’s delicate structure and modest appearance belie its robust nature. It provides insight into the remarkable diversity and survival strategies of subarctic and temperate flora. As part of the Polygonaceae family, Koenigia islandica contributes to the rich tapestry of plant life in these regions, serving as a representative of the ecological complexity and adaptability of flora in challenging climates.

In botanical studies and ecological surveys, island purslane stands as an emblematic species illustrating both the endurance of plant life in extreme environments and the intricate balance of ecosystems in which it is found.

Common Names

Dan: dværgsyre
Eng: island purslane, iceland purslane, iceland-purslane, iceland koenigia, island koenigia, koenigia
Nor: königsgrass
Swe: dvärgsyra
Sme: girondáđir
Fra: koenigie d’islande, koenigia d’islande
Gla: cainigidhe
Cym: gwlyddyn gwlad yr iâ, porpin gwlad yr iâ
En: Island purslane, Iceland Purslane, Island-Purslane, KOENIGIA, Iceland-purslane, Iceland koenigia, Island koenigia
Da: Dværgsyre
Fi: Kurjentatar
Fr: Koenigie d’Islande, Koenigia d’Islande
De: Zwerg-Säuerling
Is: Naflagras
Se: Girondáđir
No: Königsgrass
Gd: Cainigidhe
Sv: Dvärgsyra
Cy: Gwlyddyn Gwlad yr Iâ, Porpin Gwlad yr Iâ

Synonyms

• Koenigia hadacii (Á.Löve & D.Löve)
• Koenigia fuegiana (Dusén)
• Macounastrum islandicum ((L.) Small)

Distribution

• Alaska (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Aleutian Is. (native)
• Altay (native)
• Argentina South (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Chile South (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• Chita (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Finland (native)
• Føroyar (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greenland (native)
• Iceland (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• Labrador (native)
• Magadan (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Montana (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest Territorie (native)
• Norway (native)
• Nunavut (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Québec (native)
• Svalbard (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Utah (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yukon (native)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Aug 6, 2015 by Andrzej Pasierbinski (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2015 by Andrzej Pasierbinski (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 4, 2017 by Andrzej Pasierbinski (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 4, 2017 by Andrzej Pasierbinski (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5334283)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:694614-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Koenigia islandica L.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Forb/herb

Growth