Ludwigia palustris (L.) Elliott

Marsh Seedbox; Marsh Primrose Willow; Common Water Purslane

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Marsh Seedbox is a native herbaceous perennial in the Evening-Primrose family (Onagraceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Marsh Seedbox occurs in roadside ditches, along the banks of creek and ponds, and in other open areas with saturated or seasonally wet soils. It is a perennial with creeping stems that root at the nodes and form mats. The stems are round in cross section or with raised lines extending downward from the point where the leaves are attached. The stems are green or reddish in color and glabrous or minutely pubescent. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, elliptic in outline, with entire to minutely strigose margins. The faces of the leaves are glabrous and the petiole is narrowly winged. Flowers are paired in the axils of the leaves. The flowers lack petals and the capsule is less than 2 times as long as broad. Marsh Seedbox is a popular aquarium plant, and is available from many sources. Compact forms and selections with red foliage are available. It can be grown as a submersed “ground cover” near the front of the aquarium if trimmed, or as background plant. It is easily rooted from cuttings.—A. Diamond.

**

Native OBL (NWPL)

**