Ruellia ciliosa Pursh. Section: Boreosilva. Sandhill Wild-petunia, Dwarf Wild-petunia. Phen: May-Sep. Hab: Longleaf pine sandhills, particularly in loamy, submesic swales. Dist: Sc. NC south to c. peninsular FL, west to se. LA.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: Although treated as only subspecifically distinct from R. caroliniensis by many recent authors, there seem ample differences in morphology, distribution, and habitat to warrant specific distinction. Var. cinerascens Fernald of the FL Panhandle needs additional assessment, but is here tentatively submerged in R. ciliosa.

Synonymy: = Fl6, RAB, S, WH3, Ward (2007c); = n/a – SFla; = Ruellia caroliniensis (J.F.Gmel.) Steud. ssp. ciliosa var. ciliosa – Long (1970), Wasshausen (1998); = Ruellia caroliniensis (J.F.Gmel.) Steud. ssp. ciliosa (Pursh) R.W.Long var. cinerascens (Fernald) Kartesz & Gandhi – K1, K3, K4; < Ruellia caroliniensis (J.F.Gmel.) Steud. – W; > Ruellia ciliosa Pursh var. cinerascens Fernald – Fernald (1945); > Ruellia ciliosa Pursh var. typica – Fernald (1945)

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily: 8