Ludwigia pilosa,[1] the hairy primrose-willow, is a species of plant in the family Onagraceae.

Ludwigia pilosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Ludwigia
Species:
L. pilosa
Binomial name
Ludwigia pilosa

Description

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This aquatic plant is perennial and flowers through late June until late November.[2] Ludwigia pilosa is pubescent all over and sometimes described as velvety.[3] The stem can measure up to 1.2 meters tall with alternating leaves.[4][5] Leaves are simple and attached at the petiole.[5] Leaves are also elliptical shaped, gauging roughly 20 - 100 mm in length and 3-14 mm in width.[4][5] The flowers are characterized by no petals but having 4-7 yellow sepals averaging 4-5 mm long.[4][5] Ludwigia pilosa is plentiful in seeds measuring 0.5mm and incapsulated in a dry seed pod.[4] The seed box in cubed shaped with a thick exterior and estimates 3-4 mm in length.[4] Ludwigia pilosa has proven to be a very resourceful plant. Waterfowl feed on the seeds of the hairy primrose-willow and the immersed portion creates habitat for many invertebrates.[4] Once the plants start to decay, the detritus then sustains the invertebrates also.[4]

Habitat and distribution

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Ludwigia pilosa prefers wet ground and can be found along road side ditches, ponds, and shallow swampy areas.[4] Distribution spreads from eastern TX to the southern half of MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, the northern portion of FL, and two counties in southeastern VA.[6][2]

References

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  1. ^ "Ludwigia pilosa - Coastal Plain Plants Wiki". coastalplainplants.org. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  2. ^ a b "Ludwigia pilosa | hairy primrosewillow". wildflowersearch.org. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  3. ^ "SEINet Portal Network - Ludwigia pilosa". swbiodiversity.org. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Hairy Water Primrose, Ludwigia pilosa | AquaPlant". aquaplant.tamu.edu. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  5. ^ a b c d "Plants of Louisiana". warcapps.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  6. ^ "Plants Profile for Ludwigia pilosa (hairy primrose-willow)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-02.