Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains
31. Onagraceae, the Evening Primrose Family
3. Ludwigia L. -- Seedbox1. Ludwigia palustris (L.) Ell. -- Marsh seedbox
Stems creeping and rooting at the nodes or floating, simple to freely branched, 1-5 dm long, glabrous or with few scattered hairs on younger portions. Leaves opposite, the blades elliptic to elliptic-ovate, 3-25(40) mm long, 4-20 mm wide, shiny green or reddish, acute to acuminate, tapered at the base to a winged petiole 3-25 mm long. Sepals deltate, 1-2 mm long; petals none; bracteoles at base of the ovary to 1 mm long or absent. Capsule elongate-globose, somewhat 4-angled, with a longitudinal green band on each angle, 2-5 mm long, 2-3 mm thick; seeds whitish or yellowish-brown, curved-oblong, 0.5-0.9 mm long. Jun--Sep. Shallow water or mud of ponds, lakes, streams, ditches and around springs; uncommon, n and c NE; (N.S. to B.C., s to FL, TX and CA; also Mex., S.Amer., Eurasia and Africa).
North American plants belong to var. americana Fern. & Grisc.
Previous Species -- Epilobium leptophyllum Raf. -- Narrow-leaved willow herb
Return to Family -- Onagraceae - The Evening Primrose Family
Next Species -- Ludwigia polycarpa Short & Peter -- Many-seed seedbox
