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Flaigg, Norman G.

Ludwigia octovalvis

Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H. Raven

Mexican Primrose-willow, Narrow-leaf Water Primrose, Seedbox, Mexican Primrose Willow

Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: LUOC

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), HI (N), PR (N), VI (N)

From the Image Gallery

42 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 12 feet tall, often shorter.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , GA , HI , LA , MS , NC , SC , TX
Native Habitat: Swamp and wetlands plant that occurs mainly in the southern half of Texas.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Conditions Comments: This Water Primrose is a shrubby herbaceous plant that grows well in moist or shallow, submerged soils. The one inch, bright yellow flowers are numerous in the summer months and look great in a pond with other plants like Swamp Milkweed, Powdery Thalia, and Scarlet Rose-Mallow. It is fast growing and reseeds heavily. May need periodic trimming to prevent them from growing too large and overcoming other plants. Host plant for the Water-primrose hornworm moth, caterpillars and moths that are spectacular to see.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Water-primrose hornworm moth
Nectar Source: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

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

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0127 Collected Sept. 7, 1991 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Bibliography

Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-17
Research By: ADA, NPIS, LAL

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