Samolus valerandi

Samolus valerandi is a species of water pimpernel native to a very wide area across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Common names include seaside brookweed,[1] brookweed,[2] thin-leaf brookweed, water cabbage, and water rose.[3]

Samolus valerandi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Samolus
Species:
S. valerandi
Binomial name
Samolus valerandi
Synonyms

Description

It is a small perennial, growing to around 35 cm (13.8 inches) high. Its inflorescence is a raceme, with small white flowers on long stalks. Its corollas have five lobes. It can produce flowers throughout the growing season, from spring to fall. Its fruits are capsules that are green and globose.[4]

  • Mature inflorescences are widely spreading, with fruits on long stalks

Taxonomy

Although some floras recognize the North American populations of S. valerandi as a separate species (S. parviflorus) or subspecies (S. valerandi ssp. parviflorus),[5][6] a 2012 investigation based on molecular and morphological data indicated that S. vagans and S. parviflorus should not be regarded as separate species but as part of a widespread "S. valerandi species complex".[7]

Ecological aspects

This species is found in a variety of wet habitats, including stream banks, tidal marshes, and seeps.[2] It can be found in both degraded and intact natural communities.[8]

Cultivation

The plant can be grown in ponds, bog gardens, and damp areas in the garden. S. valerandi prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy), and heavy (clay) soils, preferably neutral or basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot tolerate shade and likes a bright, sunny position. It requires moist or wet soil and can even grow in water. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure and is self-fertile. S. valerandi is sometimes grown in aquariums, although they seem to last only a limited time when grown fully submersed.

References
  1. "Samolus valerandi". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  2. Alan Weakley (2015). "Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States".
  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
  4. Yatskievych, George (2013). Flora of Missouri, Volume 3. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. p. 793.
  5. "Samolus". Flora of North America. eFloras.org. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  6. "Samolus parviflorus". www.calflora.org. Calflora. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  7. Jones, K.; Anderberg, A. A.; Ronse De Craene, L. P.; Wanntorp, L. (23 June 2012). "Origin, diversification, and evolution of Samolus valerandi (Samolaceae, Ericales)". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 298 (8): 1523–1531. doi:10.1007/s00606-012-0655-z.
  8. IllinoisWildflowers
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