Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains
31. Onagraceae, the Evening Primrose Family
3. Ludwigia L. -- Seedbox2. Ludwigia polycarpa Short & Peter -- Many-seed seedbox
Stems erect or ascending, simple to freely branched, usually 4-angled, 1-9 dm tall, glabrous, producing leafy stolons from the base in autumn. Leaves alternate, the main cauline leaves with blades lanceolate to oblanceolate, 3-12 cm long, 5-15 mm wide, tapered to an acute tip and a sessile or wing-petioled base, the petiole to 8 mm long. Sepals lanceolate-deltate, 2.5-4 mm long; petals greenish and minute or absent; bracteoles arising from above the base of the ovary, linear-lanceolate, 2-5 mm long. Capsule short-cylindric to somewhat obconic, roundly 4-sided or shallowly grooved below each sepal, 4-7 mm long, 3-5 mm thick; seeds light yellow, slightly curved, 0.6-0.9 mm long, puncticulate. Jun--Sep. Borders of marshes, lakes, ponds, streams and in wet depressions; rare, e and nc NE; (ME and s Ont. to MN, s to TN, MO and KS, s AL).
Previous Species -- Ludwigia palustris (L.) Ell. -- Marsh seedbox
Return to Family -- Onagraceae - The Evening Primrose Family
