Phyla nodiflora

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Phyla nodiflora 3 (Corse).JPG

|status = LC

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Lansdown, R.V. |date=2019 |title=Phyla nodiflora |volume=2019 |page=e.T164053A67789742 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T164053A67789742.en |access-date=18 November 2021}}

|genus = Phyla

|species = nodiflora

|authority = (L.) Greene

|synonyms_ref =

|synonyms =

  • Blairia nodiflora (L.) Gaertn.
  • Lippia nodiflora (L.) Michx.
  • Lippia nodiflora var. normalis Kuntze
  • Platonia nodiflora (L.) Raf.
  • Verbena nodiflora L.
  • Zappania nodiflora (L.) Lam.

}}

Phyla nodiflora, commonly known as lippia,{{cite web |title=California Native Plant Society |url=https://calscape.org/Phyla-nodiflora-(Common-Lippia) |website=calscape.org |access-date=2024-10-30}} kurapia,{{cite web |title=PlantMaster |url=https://plantmaster.com/plants/eplant.php?plantnum=24426 |website=plantmaster.com |access-date=2024-10-30}} and frogfruit,{{Cite web |title=Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin |url=https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=phno2 |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=www.wildflower.org}} is a species of flowering plant in the family Verbenaceae. It can be found in the tropics around the globe.{{Cite web |title=Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:194567-2 |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=Plants of the World Online |language=en}} It is often grown as an ornamental plant for ground cover, and is often present in yards or disturbed areas.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

Description

The inflorescence consists of a purple centre encircled by small white-to-pink flowers. The flower takes on a match-like look, which is why the plant is sometimes called matchweed. It is similar to the related species Phyla lanceolata, but differs in having much shorter leaves that are often blunt and much more rounded.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} Both species are common as weeds and in the ornamental environment.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

References

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