Family – Onagraceae
Stems:
Leaves:
Inflorescence:
N/A
Flowers:
Calyx.
Calyx in fruit.
Top view.
Flowering – June – September.
Habitat – Savannahs, ditches, bogs, flatwoods.
Origin – Native to North America.
Other information – This species is probably more common in Alabama than has been reported. It may be overlooked as the flowers open at night and close by mid-morning.
The plant is easy to identify becasue of its strict, mostly simple stems, and big yellow flowers. Nearly every part of the plant is hairy. It prefers moist to wet soil.
The species epithet hirtella derives from the Latin “hirt” meaning “hairy, rough” and “ell(a)” meaning “small” referring to the hairiness of the plant.
The genus name Ludwigia is given in honor of Christian Gottlieb Ludwig (1709-1773). Ludwig was professor of Botany at the University of Leipzig in Germany. The University was founded in 1409 and is still in operation today with almost 30,000 students.
Alabama Distribution:
Photographs taken off Hwy 80, Macon County, AL., 8-17-05.