Justicia ovata (Walter) Forsyth f.. Common name: Coastal Plain Water-willow, Loose-flower Water-willow. Phenology: May-Jul. Habitat: Swamps, marshes. Distribution: S. VA south to c. peninsular FL, Panhandle FL, and se. AL; s. IL.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = F, K4, S, Daniel (2013); = Dianthera ovata Walter — POWO, (basionym); = Justicia ovata (Walter) Forsyth f. var. ovata — Fl6, Il, NS, Va, WH3, Long (1970), Wasshausen (1998); ? Justicia humilis Michx. var. humilis — G; < Justicia ovata (Walter) Forsyth f. — GW2, RAB; < Justicia ovata (Walter) Forsyth f. var. ovata — C
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Rhizomatous and colonial perennial of swamps and marshes.
Stems: Stems simple, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile to short-petiolate, in 4-7 pairs, elliptic to oval, 2-4 in. long.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a loose spike on a thin stem, becoming looser with time; each flower white to lavender-pink, ½-¾ in. long, bilaterally symmetric, and tubular with 2 lips, the bottom lip 3-lobed (middle lobe larger) and with a patch of dark pink-purple spotting, the upper lobe slightly notched; there are 5 narrow sepals nearly as long as the corolla tube..
Fruits: Fruit a stalked, club-shaped capsule.
Comments:
Height: 1-3 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Rhizomatous and colonial perennial of swamps and marshes.
stems: Stems simple, smooth.
leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile to short-petiolate, in 4-7 pairs, elliptic to oval, 2-4 in. long.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a loose spike on a thin stem, becoming looser with time; each flower white to lavender-pink, ½-¾ in. long, bilaterally symmetric, and tubular with 2 lips, the bottom lip 3-lobed (middle lobe larger) and with a patch of dark pink-purple spotting, the upper lobe slightly notched; there are 5 narrow sepals nearly as long as the corolla tube..
fruits: Fruit a stalked, club-shaped capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
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