Herbs, annual (sometimes perennial in south), diffusely spreading, rooting at nodes. Leaves: blade lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, lanceolate-elliptic or ovate, 1.5–5(–8) cm, 0.5–1.8(–2.2) cm, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences: proximal cyme 2–4-flowered, distal cyme of larger spathes usually exserted, 1–several-flowered; spathes solitary, pedunculate, usually distinctly falcate, (0.5–)0.8–2.5(–3.7) × 0.4–1.2(–1.4) cm, apex usually acuminate; peduncles 0.5–2(–2.9) cm. Flowers blue (rarely lavender); medial stamen anther connective with broad, transverse band of violet. Capsules 3-locular, 2-valved, 4–6.3 × (2.1–)3–4 mm. Seeds 5, brown, 2–2.8(–3.2) mm × 1.4–1.8 mm, deeply reticulate. 2n = 30.

Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Disturbed situations (lawns, gardens, and cultivated ground), moist places, and woods

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Ala., Ark., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.C., Ohio, Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., pantropical.

Discussion

The report of this plant from Minnesota (H. A. Gleason and A. Cronquist 1991) is probably based on wrongly determined material.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.