Lechea minor Linnaeus. Common name: Thymeleaf Pinweed. Phenology: Jul-Aug; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Pine savannas, longleaf pine sandhills, pine-oak woodlands, other dry woodlands or openings, sandy disturbed places. Distribution: MA and VT west to s. ON and n. IN, south to c. peninsular FL and LA (primarily Coastal Plain and around the Great Lakes).
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, F, Fl4, FNA6, G, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Hodgdon (1938), Spaulding (2013a), Wilbur & Daoud (1961), Wilbur (1974); = Lechea thymifolia Michx. Basionym: Lechea minor L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Lechea minor - FNA6
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Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷
© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷
© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect to ascending perennial of savannas, sandhills, pine-oak woodlands and sandy, disturbed places.
Stems: Stems usually from prostrate evergreen basal shoots of the previous growing season; abundantly branched, especially along the upper 2/3 of the plant, and sparsely to moderately covered with hairs pressed upward against the stem.
Leaves: Stem leaves (when present) opposite or whorled, sessile or short-petiolate, oblong to narrowly lance-shaped, 1/4-1/2 in. long, smooth except for short hairs on margins and midrib beneath. Leaves on basal shoots opposite or whorled, oval or broadly elliptic, 1/8-1/4 in. long; may be softly long-hairy.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in compact overlapping clusters or short racemes, reddish or maroon, with 3 petals mostly shorter than the enclosing calyx and rarely seen open; calyx about 1/16 in. long, consisting of 2 outer narrow inconspicuous sepals that are longer than the 3 inner elliptic to oval sepals, which are dry and membranous.
Fruits: Fruit an erect, oval capsule protruding above enclosing sepals.
Comments:
Height: 4-28 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect to ascending perennial of savannas, sandhills, pine-oak woodlands and sandy, disturbed places.
stems: Stems usually from prostrate evergreen basal shoots of the previous growing season; abundantly branched, especially along the upper 2/3 of the plant, and sparsely to moderately covered with hairs pressed upward against the stem.
leaves: Stem leaves (when present) opposite or whorled, sessile or short-petiolate, oblong to narrowly lance-shaped, 1/4-1/2 in. long, smooth except for short hairs on margins and midrib beneath. Leaves on basal shoots opposite or whorled, oval or broadly elliptic, 1/8-1/4 in. long; may be softly long-hairy.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in compact overlapping clusters or short racemes, reddish or maroon, with 3 petals mostly shorter than the enclosing calyx and rarely seen open; calyx about 1/16 in. long, consisting of 2 outer narrow inconspicuous sepals that are longer than the 3 inner elliptic to oval sepals, which are dry and membranous.
fruits: Fruit an erect, oval capsule protruding above enclosing sepals.
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cultural notes:
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