Ludwigia pilosa
Ludwigia pilosa, the hairy primrose-willow, is a species of plant in the family Onagraceae.
Ludwigia pilosa | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Onagraceae |
Genus: | Ludwigia |
Species: | L. pilosa |
Binomial name | |
Ludwigia pilosa | |
Description
This aquatic plant is perennial and flowers through late June until late November.[1] Ludwigia pilosa is pubescent all over and sometimes described as velvety.[2] The stem can measure up to 1.2 meters tall with alternating leaves.[3][4] Leaves are simple and attached at the petiole.[4] Leaves are also elliptical shaped, gauging roughly 20 - 100 mm in length and 3-14 mm in width.[3][4] The flowers are characterized by no petals but having 4-7 yellow sepals averaging 4-5 mm long.[3][4] Ludwigia pilosa is plentiful in seeds measuring 0.5mm and incapsulated in a dry seed pod.[3] The seed box in cubed shaped with a thick exterior and estimates 3-4 mm in length.[3] Ludwigia pilosa has proven to be a very resourceful plant. Waterfowl feed on the seeds of the hairy primrose-willow and the immersed portion creates habitat for many invertebrates.[3] Once the plants start to decay, the detritus then sustains the invertebrates also.[3]
Habitat and distribution
Ludwigia pilosa prefers wet ground and can be found along road side ditches, ponds, and shallow swampy areas.[3] Distribution spreads from eastern TX to the southern half of MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, the northern portion of FL, and two counties in southeastern VA.[5][1]
References
- "Ludwigia pilosa | hairy primrosewillow". wildflowersearch.org. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
- "SEINet Portal Network - Ludwigia pilosa". swbiodiversity.org. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
- "Hairy Water Primrose, Ludwigia pilosa | AquaPlant". aquaplant.tamu.edu. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
- "Plants of Louisiana". warcapps.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
- "Plants Profile for Ludwigia pilosa (hairy primrose-willow)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-02.