The damp places have their own small beauties. This is one of them. A small, creeping herb with pairs of small, rounded leaves that are edible and have a mild, slightly sweet flavour. They can be eaten raw in salads. The small, pink or white flowers appear in summer. It grows in damp, open areas from the coast to the subalpine zone. It is a native relative of the larger, weedy willowherbs. A modest plant. Easy to overlook. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. They are small, rounded, and bright green. The stems are slender and creeping, rooting at the nodes, forming loose mats. A plant that spreads without hurry. The flowers are small and pink or white, with four petals. They appear in summer and are followed by long, narrow seed pods that split open to release fluffy, wind-dispersed seeds. The fluffy seeds are a characteristic of the willowherb family. A plant that travels on the wind. Native willowherb grows in a wide range of habitats, from coastal grasslands to subalpine herbfields. It prefers damp, open sites with good light. It is common along stream banks, on lake margins, and in damp grassland. A plant that likes its feet wet. To find native willowherb is to walk the damp grasslands and stream banks. Look for the creeping mats of small, rounded leaves, the pink or white flowers. It is a humble plant, but it is useful. A handful of leaves can add a mild, sweet flavour to a salad. The stream bank is damp. The willowherb creeps between the grasses, pink flowers nodding in the breeze. Most people walk past without noticing. The willowherb does not mind. It was not trying to be noticed. It was just growing where the ground stays wet.