Ruellia ciliosa Pursh

Sandhill Wild Petunia

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Sandhill Wild Petunia is a native herbaceous perennial in the Acanthus family (Acanthaceae). It is native to the southern third of Alabama. Sandhill Wild Petunia occurs in sandhills, in scrub oak woods, in xeric longleaf pine forests, and on dry, sandy roadsides. It is a perennial with a fibrous root system. Stems are short, usually less than 3 inches in height. The stems are green or reddish-purple and pubescent with long, straight hairs. Leaves are basal and cauline. The basal leaves for a rosette. Leaves are short petiolate to sub-sessile, ovate to spatulate or lanceolate in outline, entire, and pubescent. Stem leaves are opposite. Flowers are sessile or sub-sessile in the axils of the upper leaves. The calyx has a short tube and 5 long linear lobes. The lobes are pubescent with long white hairs. The lobes of the calyx are as long as or longer than the mature capsule. The corolla is funnelform with 5 rounded lobes. The corolla is pale blue in color. Corollas are easily detached. The fruit is an elongate glabrous capsule.--A. Diamond

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Native

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