Uvularia sessilifolia Linnaeus. Section: Oakesiella. Common name: Straw-lily, Wild-oats, Merrybells. Phenology: Late Mar-early May; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Moist hardwood forests, on slopes and mainly in bottomlands. Distribution: NS west to ND, south to Panhandle FL and n. LA and e. TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, ETx1, F, FNA26, Il, K4, Mi, Mo1, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Wilbur (1963b); = Oakesiella sessilifolia (L.) S.Watson — S, S13. Basionym: Uvularia sessilifolia L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Uvularia sessilifolia - FNA26
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Kyle Filicky | Original Image ⭷
© Kyle Filicky | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect to ascending, colonial understory perennial found in moist hardwood forests, on slopes and in bottomlands.
Stems: Stems smooth, once-branched; forming colonies via underground stolons.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile, elliptic with pointed tips, 1½-3 in. long, pale beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: A single flower hangs bell-like on a short stalk from an upper leaf axil; it is cream- to yellow-colored, about 1 in. long and consists of 6 pointed tepals.
Fruits: Fruit a 3-sided, oval-ellipsoid capsule.
Comments:
Height: 6-10 in.
plant sale text: Sessile-leaf bellwort produces bell-shaped pale yellow flowers that hang down from its stems. It grows well in loose, humusy soil that is moist but never soggy. Sessile-leaf bellwort makes a wonderful addition to a woodland garden. This species is found growing on hardwood slopes and in rich coves of the Piedmont and mountains of the eastern U.S. Historically, it was used medicinally by the Cherokee and Iroquois tribes. These choice wildflowers have been carefully propagated at NCBG and are rarely offered for sale.
bloom table text:
description: Erect to ascending, colonial understory perennial found in moist hardwood forests, on slopes and in bottomlands.
stems: Stems smooth, once-branched; forming colonies via underground stolons.
leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile, elliptic with pointed tips, 1½-3 in. long, pale beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: A single flower hangs bell-like on a short stalk from an upper leaf axil; it is cream- to yellow-colored, about 1 in. long and consists of 6 pointed tepals.
fruits: Fruit a 3-sided, oval-ellipsoid capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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