Ludwigia alternifolia
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Ludwigia alternifolia, commonly known as seedbox,[1] bushy seedbox,[2] rattlebox,[3] and square-pod water-primrose,[4] is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family Onagraceae (evening primrose family).[5] 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 Template:Convert tall on reddish-tinged stems. Leaves are deep green, sharply-pointed, and lance-shaped.[3] They are arranged alternately on the stem and are Template:Convert long and Template:Convert across. The margins are smooth and sometimes slightly ciliate or reddish. The leaves either have short petioles or are sessile.[6]
Flowers are usually single, growing from the leaf axils on upper leaves. They have four yellow petals and four light green sepals.[7] The mature fruits are brown, cubic capsules with rigid sides, about Template:Convert in length.[6]
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.[8]
Distribution and habitat
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It is native to southern Quebec and Ontario to Kansas and south to Texas and Florida.[1] It grows in habitats that have full to partial sun and wet to moist soil, such as marshes, wet meadows, and swamps.[3][6]
References
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