Ludwigia maritima

Roots fibrous or fusiform, sometimes fascicled. Stems subterete to scarcely angled, with narrow raised lines or wings decurrent from leaf axils, 30–90 cm, simple or sparsely branched distally, strigillose to sometimes glabrate. Leaves: stipules narrowly deltate, 0.05–0.2 × 0.05–0.1 mm; sessile; blade ovate proximally, lanceolate to lanceolate-linear distally, (2–)3–8 × 0.3–1.5 cm, base cuneate, margins entire, apex acute, surfaces glabrate to strigillose or hirsute; bracts usually much reduced, sublinear. Inflorescences sparse racemes, flowers solitary in leaf axils; bracteoles attached in subopposite pairs on distal 1/3 of pedicel, lanceolate-linear, 0.7–3.2(–5) × 0.2–0.5 mm, margins entire, apex acute, surfaces strigillose. Flowers: sepals often spreading, ovate-deltate, (4.5–)5.5–8(–9) × 3–5 mm, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces strigillose; petals cordate, 9–12 × 8–10 mm, base attenuate, apex emarginate; filaments yellow, awl-shaped, 1.9–3.2 mm, anthers 1.2–2.5 × 0.4–0.7 mm; ovary subcuboid or globose, 3–4.5 × 3–4 mm; nectary disc elevated, domed, 0.9–1.3 mm diam., prominently 4-lobed, ringed with sparse, spreading hairs; style 1.5–3.3 mm, glabrous, stigma capitate to hemispherical, 0.6–1.2 × 1.4–1.9 mm, shallowly 4-lobed, not exserted beyond anthers. Capsules subcuboid to squarish globose, 4–7 ×4–5 mm, 4-angled, often also 4-winged, wings 0.3–1.2 mm wide, pedicel 5–17 mm. Seeds light brown, oblong to reniform, 0.4–0.6 ×0.2–0.4 mm, surface cells elongate transversely to seed length, except may be parallel to seed length near raphe. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Damp, sandy, or peaty habitats, roadside ditches, margins of bogs or fields, usually within 75 miles of sea coast.
Elevation: 0–200 m.

Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa