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little brown jug

Rhizomes

internodes short, leaves crowded at rhizome apex (or internodes somewhat elongate, leaves scarcely crowded in var. arifolia and var. callifolia growing in wet places).

Leaf

blade commonly variegate, triangular-sagittate to subhastate, infrequently ovate-sagittate to deltate.

Flowers

calyx tube narrowly to broadly urceolate-campanulate or ovoid, 12-30 × 6-12 mm, inner surface smooth;

lobes erect or spreading, 2-8 × 2-9 mm, adaxially puberulent;

stamen connective extending slightly beyond pollen sacs;

ovary ca. 1/3-inferior;

ovules ca. 6 per locule;

styles 2-cleft to stigma.

Hexastylis arifolia

Distribution
from FNA
AL; FL; GA; KY; LA; MS; NC; SC; TN; VA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 3 (all in the flora).

Hexastylis arifolia is the most widespread species in the genus. Along the boundaries where the ranges of the varieties meet, intermediate specimens are occasionally found.

The Catawba tribe used Hexastylis arifolia (no varieties specified) medicinally for stomach pains, miscellaneous pains, heart trouble, and backaches; the Rappahannock, for treating whooping cough and asthma (D. E. Moerman 1986).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Calyx lobes erect, 2–4 × 2–4 mm.
var. ruthii
1. Calyx lobes spreading, 2.5–8 × 3–9 mm.
→ 2
2. Calyx tube 13–18 × 6–10 mm.
var. arifolia
2. Calyx tube 20–25 × 10–12 mm.
var. callifolia
Source FNA vol. 3.
Parent taxa Aristolochiaceae > Hexastylis
Sibling taxa
H. contracta, H. lewisii, H. minor, H. naniflora, H. rhombiformis, H. shuttleworthii, H. speciosa, H. virginica
Subordinate taxa
H. arifolia var. arifolia, H. arifolia var. callifolia, H. arifolia var. ruthii
Synonyms Asarum arifolium
Name authority (Michaux) Small: Fl. S.E. U.S., 1132. (1903)
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