Calandrinia
A genus of colourful-flowered herbs from the Americas, often red or purple
Calandrinia is a group of about 37 flowering herb species, mostly annuals or perennials, with blooms in red, purple, pink, white or yellow. Native to the Americas from western North America through Central America to southern South America, some species have spread to Australia, New Zealand, southern Africa, Asia and Europe.
- Named after 18th-century Genevan botanist Jean Louis Calandrini
- Flowers typically have five petals but can have four to eleven
- Most Australian species once called Calandrinia are now in Rumicastrum
- One newly described Australian species, C. petrophila, remains in the genus
- Leaves are mostly basal and arranged alternately or oppositely
What does Calandrinia look like?
Plants in the Calandrinia genus grow as low, spreading or upright herbs. Their leaves cluster near the base and may alternate or sit opposite each other on the stem. The flowers appear in clusters called cymes and usually have five petals, though the count can range from four to eleven. Petal colours include red, purple, pink, white and yellow.
Where does Calandrinia come from?
The genus Calandrinia was first described in 1823 by German botanist Carl Sigismund Kunth and named after Genevan botanist Jean Louis Calandrini. It originates in the Americas. Many plants once classified under this name in Australia and New Guinea are now placed in separate genera, such as Rumicastrum or Parakeelya, due to genetic and morphological differences.
When and how Calandrinia blooms
Calandrinia species grow as annual or perennial herbs. They produce flowers in cymose inflorescences. While the original American species remain in the genus, over 60 Australian and New Guinean species formerly included here have been moved to other genera based on studies showing they are not closely related to the American lineage.
Kinds of Calandrinia
As of 2024, the genus includes around 37 accepted species, all from the Americas except for one recently described eastern Australian species, Calandrinia petrophila. Most former Australian members, once thought part of this group, are now classified under Rumicastrum, though some still use the name Parakeelya in proposals.
What Calandrinia means
Calandrinia belongs to the Montiaceae family, having previously been placed in Portulacaceae. In Australia, these plants are among the most common succulent herbs alongside pigweeds (Portulaca). A naming debate continues: some propose using Parakeelya, derived from Indigenous terms, while others support Rumicastrum under formal botanical rules.
Questions people ask about Calandrinia
Where does Calandrinia come from?
Calandrinia is native to the Americas, ranging from western North America through Central America to southern South America.
What do Calandrinia flowers look like?
They have four to eleven petals, usually five, in shades of red, purple, pink, white or yellow, borne in cyme-shaped clusters.
Are Australian redmaids still called Calandrinia?
Most are now placed in the genus Rumicastrum; only one recent eastern Australian species, C. petrophila, remains in Calandrinia.
Is Calandrinia related to purslane?
It was once in the purslane family (Portulacaceae) but is now classified in Montiaceae, a related family.
Why is there confusion over its name in Australia?
Studies show Australian and American species aren’t closely related. A debate exists between renaming them Parakeelya (from Indigenous names) or Rumicastrum (following naming rules).
Good reading and sources
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Calandrinia", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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