Herbs, erect, to 6 dm, un­branched or with short repro­ductive branches. Stems green, brown, or purple, densely pubescent, without glandular tri­chomes; thorns rare, 1 per node or absent, 4–11 × 0.2–0.6 mm. Leaf blades lanceolate, 2–5.5 × 0.3–1 cm, base acute to rounded, margins serrulate, surfaces glabrous or pubescent. Inflorescences terminal, leafy panicles or corymbs, 15–30-flowered. Flowers: sepals lanceolate, 4.5–7 × 1–2 mm, hispid-hirsute, with glandular tri­chomes; corolla blue, petals 10–15 × 5–8 mm; ovary glabrous or puberulent, upper 1/2 often with glandular trichomes; styles 2, 5–10 mm, glandular-pubescent toward bases. Capsules globose to slightly ovoid, 3–4.5 × 2.5–4 mm, upper 1/2 puberulent or glandular-pubescent. Seeds broadly ovoid, symmetric, 0.6–0.7 × 0.3–0.4 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Jul–Sep.
Habitat: Wet roadsides and ditches.
Elevation: 0–20 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Fla., Ga., S.C.

Discussion

Hydrolea corymbosa is morphologically very similar to the more western H. ovata, sharing the paniculate or corymbose type of inflorescence and similar stem and sepal pubescence. However, H. corymbosa is a much smaller and more slender plant with fewer (if any) thorns, stems that are dark brown or purple, and lanceolate leaves.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.