Southern Wetland Flora
Field Office Guide to Plant Species
Itea virginica L.
- Family: Saxifrage (Saxifragaceae)
- Flowering: May-June
- Field Marks: This species is characterized by its alternate, finely toothed leaves and its elongated clusters of white flowers followed by slender, beaked capsules.
- Habitat: Swamps, low woods.
- Habit: Shrub to 10 feet tall.
- Stems: Branched, the younger ones hairy.
- Leaves: Alternate, simple, elliptic, pointed at the tip, tapering to the base, finely toothed, usually smooth, up to 3 inches long.
- Flowers: Several in elongated clusters up to 6 inches long, each flower on a short stalk.
- Sepals: 5, green, united to form a shallow cup.
- Petals: 5, white, free from each other, 1/8-1/4 inch long.
- Stamens: 5.
- Pistils: Ovary superior.
- Fruits: Several capsules in elongated clusters; each capsule beaked, leathery, up to 1/2 inch long.
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