Blinks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blinks
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Montia
Species:	fontana
Synonyms
Calandrinia cerrateae Añon Calandrinia pusilla Barnéoud Cameraria fontana Moench Claytonia fontana (L.) R.J.Davis Claytonia hallii A.Gray Claytonia pusilla (Barnéoud) Kuntze Montia alsine-facie Gilib. Montia arvensis Wallr. Montia chaberti Gand. Montia clara Ö. Nilsson Montia decumbens St.-Lag. Montia dipetala Suksd. Montia erecta Steud. Montia funstonii Rydb. Montia hallii (A. Gray) Greene Montia lamprosperma Cham. Montia linearifolia d'Urv. Montia major Steud. Montia pentandra Willd. ex Cham. Montia stenophylla Rydb. Montia tenella Steud. Montia terrestris Dumort.

Montia fontana, often called blinks or water blinks, is a small plant. It is also known as water chickweed or annual water miner's lettuce. This plant grows for only one year. It belongs to the Montia group of plants.

About Water Blinks

Water blinks is a common plant. You can find it in wet places all over the world. It grows from very warm areas near the tropics to very cold places near the Arctic.

What Water Blinks Looks Like

This plant can look quite different depending on where it grows. It changes its shape to fit its environment. Sometimes, it even grows completely underwater, acting like an aquatic plant.

Different Kinds of Water Blinks

Scientists have divided Montia fontana into four main types. These are called subspecies. They are:

• subsp. fontana
• subsp. amporitana
• subsp. chondrosperma
• subsp. variabilis

Eating Water Blinks

In some countries, like Spain, people eat water blinks. They use it in salads. It is quite popular in markets and restaurants that specialize in wild foods. These places often sell things like wild mushrooms too.

See also

In Spanish: Regajo para niños