Peplis portula L. Lythrum portula is a species of flowering plant in the loosestrife family known by the common names water-purslane[1] and spatulaleaf loosestrife.

[2] It is native to Europe, and it is found in parts of western North America as an introduced species.

This is a prostrate annual herb producing a hairless, reddish stem up to 25 centimeters long, which lies along the ground and roots where its nodes come in contact with wet earth.

The slightly fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves are about a centimeter long and greenish to reddish in color.

Solitary flowers occur in leaf axils.