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Brundage, Stephanie

Ludwigia alternifolia

Ludwigia alternifolia L.

Seedbox

Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family)

Synonym(s): Ludwigia alternifolia var. linearifolia, Ludwigia alternifolia var. pubescens, Ludwigia alternifolia var. typica

USDA Symbol: LUAL2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A many-branched, smooth-stemmed plant with 1 short-stalked, yellow flower in each upper leaf axil.

The few other species of Seedboxes in the East have sessile leaves. Seedboxes are mostly wetland plants and bear distinctive, box-like fruit, square on top and filled with many seeds. Other members of the genus do not have such fruit.

From the Image Gallery

13 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV
Canada: ON
Native Distribution: Ontario; Massachusetts and New York south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Native Habitat: Swamps and wet soil.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil Description: Sandy

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL				FACW	OBL		OBL	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Ludwigia alternifolia in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ludwigia alternifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ludwigia alternifolia

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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