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Houstonia procumbens (Walter ex J.F. Gmelin) Standley. Common name: Creeping Bluet, Fairy-footprints, Roundleaf Bluet, Innocence. Phenology: Oct-Apr. Habitat: Beach dunes, moist to wet sandy pinelands and savannas, sandy firelanes. Distribution: Se. NC south to s. FL, west to se. LA.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Other Comments: Gaddy & Rayner (1980) note that this plant is fairly common on SC barrier islands, but flowers in the winter and is easily overlooked in other seasons (when botanists are more likely to be afield). See Wilbur (1968) and Ward (2004c) for differing opinions about the merits of the taxonomic recognition of the glabrous and pubescent plants.

Synonymy : = Fl5, RAB, S, WH3, Terrell (1991), Terrell (1996); = Hedyotis procumbens (Walter ex J.F.Gmel.) Fosberg — Rogers (1987); = Houstonia rotundifolia Michx.; > Houstonia procumbens (Walter ex J.F.Gmel.) Standl. var. hirsuta (W.H.Lewis) D.B.Ward — Ward (2004c); > Houstonia procumbens (Walter ex J.F.Gmel.) Standl. var. procumbens — Ward (2004c); Poiretia procumbens Walter ex J.F. Gmelin — (basionym)

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Heliophily : 8

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image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Houstonia procumbens, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Panacea Unit, Wakulla County, Florida 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Low-growing, semi-succulent perennial found on beach dunes and in moist to wet, sandy pinelands.

Stems: Stems creeping along ground, rooting at nodes.

Leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, oval to round, about 1/3 in. long, somewhat succulent and with tiny hairs on the margins.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary on short, erect stalks from leaf axils; white; 1/3 in. wide; consisting of a short corolla tube and 4 spreading, oval, pointed lobes.

Fruits:

Comments:

Height: to 12 in. long

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Low-growing, semi-succulent perennial found on beach dunes and in moist to wet, sandy pinelands.

stems: Stems creeping along ground, rooting at nodes.

leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, oval to round, about 1/3 in. long, somewhat succulent and with tiny hairs on the margins.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary on short, erect stalks from leaf axils; white; 1/3 in. wide; consisting of a short corolla tube and 4 spreading, oval, pointed lobes.

fruits:

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: