Gratiola virginiana Linnaeus. Common name: Virginia Hedge-hyssop, Round-fruit Hedge-hyssop. Phenology: Mar-Oct. Habitat: Sluggish streams, bogs, swamps, tidal swamps, wet areas. Distribution: NJ west to OH and IA and KS, south to c. peninsular FL and e. TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Var. aestuariorum Pennell, of s. NJ south to e. VA, is alleged to differ in being shorter, with more rounded leaves, short pedicels (< 2 mm long), a shorter calyx and corolla, and a smaller capsule; it is likely merely a stunted aquatic form, but needs additional study – see Fernald (1950) and Pennell (1935) for additional details.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl6, FNA17, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NY, RAB, S, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV; = n/a — Pa; > Gratiola virginiana L. var. aestuariorum Pennell — F, K4, Tat, Pennell (1935); > Gratiola virginiana L. var. virginiana — F, K4, NE, Tat, Pennell (1935). Basionym: Gratiola virginiana L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Gratiola virginiana - FNA17
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
- Midwest: OBL
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Sprawling annual found in sluggish streams, bogs, ditches and other wet areas.
Stems: Stems succulent, simple but often rooting at leaf nodes and sending up erect branches from there, reddish, smooth to slightly glandular-hairy.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile (not clasping the stem), elliptic to lance-shaped, to 2 in. long, with entire, undulate, or sharply toothed margins.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary in leaf axils; on short stalks or sessile; white or pink-tinged and marked on the inside with purple lines; about ½ in. long; bilaterally symmetric; with a tubular corolla opening to 4 unequal, spreading, notched lobes and the calyx with 5 narrowly lance-shaped sepals.
Fruits: Fruit a tiny, round capsule.
Comments:
Height: 4-16 in. (long)
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Sprawling annual found in sluggish streams, bogs, ditches and other wet areas.
stems: Stems succulent, simple but often rooting at leaf nodes and sending up erect branches from there, reddish, smooth to slightly glandular-hairy.
leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile (not clasping the stem), elliptic to lance-shaped, to 2 in. long, with entire, undulate, or sharply toothed margins.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary in leaf axils; on short stalks or sessile; white or pink-tinged and marked on the inside with purple lines; about ½ in. long; bilaterally symmetric; with a tubular corolla opening to 4 unequal, spreading, notched lobes and the calyx with 5 narrowly lance-shaped sepals.
fruits: Fruit a tiny, round capsule.
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cultural notes:
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