Torenia fournieri
Ill. Hort. 23: 129, plate 249. 1876.
Stems 2–38 cm. Leaves: petiole 3–21 mm; blade lanceolate to ovate or distal sometimes linear, 3–46 × 2–24 mm; distal well developed or greatly reduced. Pedicels 5–24 mm, 0.7–1.5 times subtending leaves. Flowers: sepals 11–18 mm; corolla adaxial lip equal to abaxial. Capsules narrowly ellipsoid, 8–12 × 1.5–3 mm. Seeds 0.5–0.6 × 0.3–0.4 mm. 2n = 18 (India).
Phenology: Flowering May–Oct.
Habitat: Lawns, compost piles, roadsides, disturbed places, persisting after cultivation.
Elevation: 20–1200 m.
Distribution
Introduced; Ala., Fla., Iowa, La., N.C., Asia, introduced also in Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, Australia.
Discussion
Torenia fournieri and its hybrid with T. concolor, often called “Torenia hybrida” in the horticultural trade, are popular bedding plants throughout much of North America. The hybrid is sterile, reportedly producing neither seeds nor viable pollen (http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/Content/torenia-3/$FILE/biologytorenia08.pdf). J. D. Pittillo and A. E. Brown (1988) published the first report of T. fournieri as a waif in the flora area, from Jackson County, North Carolina.
Selected References
None.