Phryma leptostachya Linnaeus. Common name: American Lopseed. Phenology: May-Aug; Jul-Oct. Habitat: Bottomland forests, nutrient-rich slopes, mesic hammocks, in the Coastal Plain primarily in places underlain by coquina limestone (‘marl’) and essentially absent from the more acidic portions of the Coastal Plain. Distribution: QC west to MB, south to ne. FL, Panhandle FL, and TX.
ID notes: The fruits "lopped down" against the stem are unmistakable.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: An e. Asian relative has been variously treated as a separate species (as here), subspecies, variety, or merely form; the treatment here of the American and Asian plants as separable at species plant makes the Asian plant P. asiatica (H. Hara) O. Degener & I. Degener.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Phryma leptostachya L. ssp. leptostachya — Fl6; = Phryma leptostachya L. var. leptostachya — FNA17, Mo3, Va, Lee et al (1996); < Phryma leptostachya L. — Ar, C, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Tx, W, WH3, WV, Barker et al. (2012), Lee et al (1996); > Phryma leptostachya L. var. confertifolia Fernald — F; > Phryma leptostachya L. var. leptostachya — F. Basionym: Phryma leptostachya L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Phryma leptostachya var. leptostachya - FNA17
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: UPL
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 3
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, unbranched perennial with distinctively reflexed fruits, found in bottomland forests and nutrient-rich slopes; in the Coastal Plain primarily in places underlain by coquina limestone/marl.
Stems: Stems smooth or hairy, swollen and purplish above each node.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, pairs widely spaced; leaf blades oval with round-toothed margins.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in racemes from axils of the upper 2 pairs of leaves, arranged in pairs along upper third or half of each raceme stalk; pale purplish-white; bilaterally symmetric; with a slender corolla tube divided into 2 lips. The calyx is tubular-oval and strongly ribbed. Flowers held horizontally, but soon become reflexed downward.
Fruits: Fruit an ellipsoid, light brown achene.
Comments:
Height: 8-38 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect, unbranched perennial with distinctively reflexed fruits, found in bottomland forests and nutrient-rich slopes; in the Coastal Plain primarily in places underlain by coquina limestone/marl.
stems: Stems smooth or hairy, swollen and purplish above each node.
leaves: Leaves opposite, pairs widely spaced; leaf blades oval with round-toothed margins.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in racemes from axils of the upper 2 pairs of leaves, arranged in pairs along upper third or half of each raceme stalk; pale purplish-white; bilaterally symmetric; with a slender corolla tube divided into 2 lips. The calyx is tubular-oval and strongly ribbed. Flowers held horizontally, but soon become reflexed downward.
fruits: Fruit an ellipsoid, light brown achene.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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