Piriqueta caroliniana (Walter) Urb.

Pitted Stripeseed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Pitted Stripeseed is a native perennial herb in the Passion-Flower family (Passifloraceae). It can be found in southeast Alabama. Pitted Stripeseed occurs on roadsides, in scrub oak forests, and in sandhills, usually on very dry and sandy soils. It is a perennial forming extensive colonies from rhizomes. The stems are erect to reclining, often forming intertwined mounds, and pubescent with stellate trichomes. The stems are green in color and range in length from 1-2 feet. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, linear to elliptic in outline, glabrous or pubescent, with entire or toothed margins. The bright yellow flowers are produced from the leaf axils. They have 5 petals, 5 stamens, and 3 stigmas. The flowers of Pitted Stripeseed are distylous and self-incompatible. The fruit is an ovoid 3-valved capsule that explodes when ripe, scattering the seed. The seed are long and narrow, with longitudinally striped depressions. Pitted Stripeseed is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a site in full sun with sandy, well-draining soil. It can be used as a ground cover in open areas, or to line paths and borders. Pitted Stripeseed is a larval host plant for the Gulf fritillary butterfly (Agraulis vanilla).—A. Diamond.

**

Native

**