Ludwigia alternifolia
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in the willowherb family Onagraceae}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Ludwigia alternifolia (USDA).jpg
|status = LC
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|status2 = G5
|status2_system = TNC
|genus = Ludwigia (plant)
|species = alternifolia
|authority = L.
|synonyms =
- Isnardia alternifolia (L.) DC.
- Ludwigia alternifolia var. typica Munz
- Isnardia alternifolia var. salicifolia (Poir.) DC.
- Isnardia alternifolia var. uniflora (Raf.) DC.
- Isnardia aurantiaca DC.
- Ludwigia alternifolia var. linearifolia Britton
- Ludwigia alternifolia var. pubescens E.J.Palmer & Steyerm.
- Ludwigia angustifolia var. ramosissima (Walter) Poir.
- Ludwigia aurantiaca Raf.
- Ludwigia macrocarpa Michx.
- Ludwigia microcarpa Link
- Ludwigia pruinosa Raf.
- Ludwigia ramosissima Walter
- Ludwigia salicifolia Poir.
- Ludwigia uniflora Raf.
|synonyms_ref = {{cite POWO |id=613307-1 |title=Ludwigia alternifolia L. |accessdate=8 July 2023}}
}}
Ludwigia alternifolia, commonly known as seedbox,{{cite web |title=USDA Plants Database |url=https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=LUAL2 |website=plants.usda.gov}} bushy seedbox,{{cite web |title=NatureServe Explorer 2.0 |url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.155113/Ludwigia_alternifolia |website=explorer.natureserve.org}} rattlebox, and square-pod water-primrose,{{cite web |title=Ludwigia alternifolia (square-pod water-primrose): Go Botany |url=https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/ludwigia/alternifolia/ |website=gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org}} is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family Onagraceae (evening primrose family).{{cite book|last1=Bodner|first1=James H. Miller, Karl V. Miller ; featuring photography by Ted|title=Forest plants of the Southeast and their wildlife uses|date=2005|publisher=University of Georgia Press|location=Athens|isbn=9780820327488|edition=Rev.}} It is native to central and eastern North America, growing in marshes, wet meadows, and swamps. It has yellow, four-petaled flowers and brown seed pods that are shaped like a cube.
Description
Ludwigia alternifolia grows {{Convert|2-3|feet|cm}} tall on reddish-tinged stems. Leaves are deep green, sharply-pointed, and lance-shaped. They are arranged alternately on the stem and are {{convert |1.25-4|in|cm|0|abbr=on|}} long and {{convert |0.25-0.75|in|cm|0|abbr=on|}} across. The margins are smooth and sometimes slightly ciliate or reddish. The leaves either have short petioles or are sessile.{{cite web |title=Seedbox (Ludwigia alternifolia) |url=https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/seedbox.html |website=www.illinoiswildflowers.info}}
File:Seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia.jpg
Flowers are usually single, growing from the leaf axils on upper leaves. They have four yellow petals and four light green sepals.{{cite web |title=Ludwigia alternifolia page |url=https://www.missouriplants.com/Ludwigia_alternifolia_page.html |website=www.missouriplants.com}} The mature fruits are brown, cubic capsules with rigid sides, about {{convert |0.25|in|cm|1|abbr=on|}} in length.
Etymology
The genus name Ludwiga is for the 18th century German botanist, Christian Gottlieb Ludwig. The species name alternifolia references the fact that the leaves are alternate.{{cite book |last1=Denison |first1=Edgar |title=Missouri Wildflowers |date=2017 |publisher=Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri |isbn=978-1-887247-59-7 |pages=148 |edition=Sixth}}
Distribution and habitat
File:Ludwigia alternifolia (Seedbox).jpg
It is native to southern Quebec and Ontario to Kansas and south to Texas and Florida. It grows in habitats that have full to partial sun and wet to moist soil, such as marshes, wet meadows, and swamps.{{Cite web|title=Ludwigia alternifolia - Plant Finder|url=https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e113|access-date=2022-01-18|website=www.missouribotanicalgarden.org}}
References
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q6699411}}
Category:Flora of Northern America