Marsh Seedbox (Ludwigia palustris)

From Wikipedia

Open on Wikipedia

Ludwigia palustris
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Ludwigia
Species:
L. palustris
Binomial name
Ludwigia palustris

Ludwigia palustris is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common names marsh seedbox,[1] Hampshire-purslane[2] and water purslane. This is an aquatic or semiaquatic perennial herb which grows in moist to wet to flooded areas. It is sometimes a weed. The species epithet palustris is Latin for "of the marsh" and indicates its common habitat.[3]

Description

[edit]

L. palustris forms prostrate, sprawling mats in wet, disturbed areas. Its stems are semi-succulent, reddish in color, and smooth or slightly hairy. As the stems spread along the ground, roots form from the nodes. At maturity, the stems may reach 10-40 cm long.[4]

The leaves are opposite, smooth, oval-shaped, and reach up to 1.5 inches long. They have a winged petiole and are often reddish-green in color.

Flowers with visible stamens

The greenish-white flowers are born on the leaf axils and reach 2-3 cm long.[4] They lack petals, and are composed of 4 triangular-shaped sepals and 4 white-tipped stamens, set above a cube-shaped, 4-angled ovary.

The fruits are small, cube-shaped capsules, 2-3 cm long.[4] They are pale green in color, with darker green stripes along the angles. The sepals are persistent, remaining present on the developed fruits.[5]

Roots extending from the nodes of the stem, with axillary flowers visible

Distribution and Habitat

[edit]

L. palustris is circumpolar species with a large native range. It occurs in North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. It occurs as a naturalized or invasive species in Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand.[6]

The species is generally restricted to low elevations, where it grows on shallow bodies of water such as reservoirs, ditches, and the banks of ponds, rivers, and streams. It requires wet, muddy or sandy soils poor in calcium but rich in humus and nutrients. [6]

Conservation and Threats

[edit]

The plant can be highly invasive outside its native range, very adaptable, and reproduces asexually.[7] Ludwigia palustris poses a potential threat to wetland vegetation in Victoria, Australia. It has spread to riverbanks in Northeastern Australia and other areas.[8]

Cultivation

[edit]

L. palustris is cultivated for use in aquariums and aquascaping. It is often sold under the names Ludwigia 'super red', Ludwigia 'mini super red', or Ludwigia 'red'.[9]

A cultivated specimen growing semi-aquatically

References

[edit]
  1. ^ NRCS. "Ludwigia palustris". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  2. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. ^ Smith, Archibald William (1997). A Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins. Dover Publications. p. 258. ISBN 9780486297156.
  4. ^ a b c Cooke, S.S, ed. 1997. A Field Guide to the Common Wetland Plants of Western Washington and Northwestern Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society and Washington Native Plant Society. Seattle Ausubon Society, Seattle, WA, 417pp. Hitchcock, Leo C. and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA, and London, England, 730pp.
  5. ^ Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2026. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. University of North Carolina Herbarium, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, U.S.A. https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-taxon-detail.php&lsid=urn:lsid:ncbg.unc.edu:taxon:{CC02D80A-AC35-45C9-B774-489E5B011E04}. Accessed Jan 1, 2026.
  6. ^ a b Dítě, Daniel; Jr, Pavol Eliáš; Dítě, Zuzana; Šimková, Andrea (2017-03-31). "Recent distribution and phytosociological affiliation of Ludwigia palustris in Slovakia". Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae. 86 (1). doi:10.5586/asbp.3544. ISSN 2083-9480.
  7. ^ "Biological control of invasive water primroses, Ludwigia spp., in the United States: A feasibility assessment" (PDF). Journal of Aquatic Plant Management. 59: 67–77. 2021.
  8. ^ "Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet Ludwigia Palustris". Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  9. ^ Aquarist, The 2Hr. "How to grow Ludwigia sp. 'Super red'". The 2Hr Aquarist. Retrieved 2026-01-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
[edit]


Stub icon

This Myrtales article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

About

No page comments added.

Synonyms

  • Water Purslane

Links