Phryma leptostachya Linnaeus. American Lopseed. Phen: May-Aug; Jul-Oct. Hab: 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. Dist: 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, Va, Lee et al (1996); < Phryma leptostachya L. – Ar, C, G, GrPl, Il, K1, K3, 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

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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