Samolus parviflorus Raf.

Water Pimpernel; Brookweed

Herb

Biennial

Vascular

Water Pimpernel is a native herbaceous annual or short-lived perennial in the Primrose family (Primulaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Water Pimpernel occurs along spring runs and streams, in roadside ditches, in Bald Cypress or hardwood swamps, and on floodplains. It is an annual or short-lived perennial with a tap root. Stems are erect, green in color, and branched above the middle. There are often several stems from each basal rosette. Leaves are basal and cauline. The leaves are sessile or petiolate, alternate on the stem, obovate to spatulate or elliptic in outline, entire, and glabrous. Flowers are produced in open terminal or axillary racemes or panicles. Flowers are solitary on pedicels with a tiny bract at the midpoint. The sepals are eglandular, united at the base, and with small triangular or ovate lobes. The corolla is campanulate and white in color. The fruit is a capsule. Water Pimpernel is sometimes sold as an aquarium plant. Some taxonomists include this species within the European Samolus valerandi L. as Samolus valerandi L. subsp. parviflorus (Raf.)Hultén.—A. Diamond

**

Native

**