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Phrymaceae
Phryma

not marked as a favorite taxon 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.

Glossary (beta!)

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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image #1 of Phryma leptostachya© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Phryma leptostachya© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Phryma leptostachya© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Phryma leptostachya© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Phryma leptostachya© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Phryma leptostachya© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Phryma leptostachya© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Phryma leptostachya© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Phryma leptostachya© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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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