Flora of North America species comparison

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Limosella australis

Limosella aquatica

Atlantic mudwort, delta mudwort, limosella à feuilles subulées, Welsh mudwort

awl-leaf mudwort, limosella aquatique, mudwort, northern mudwort, water mudwort
Habit Annuals mat-forming. Annuals solitary or mat-forming.
Leaves

clustered or scattered along stolons;

blade linear to filiform, 1–3.5 × 0.1–0.2 cm, young leaves with tapering sheaths at base.

clustered, usually rosulate;

blade spatulate to linear, (1.5–)3–10(–20) × 0.5–3 cm, young leaves auriculate at base.
Pedicels

recurved in fruit, 1–2 cm.

spreading in fruit, (0.04–)2–6 cm.
Flowers

calyx not purple spotted, lobes 0.5–1 mm, tube 1–2 mm;

corolla white to pale lavender, 2–4 mm, lobes rounded;

stamens attached at same level;

style 1 mm, capitate.

calyx often purple spotted between lobes, lobes 1 mm, tube 1–2 mm;

corolla white to pink, rarely pale purple abaxially, 2–3 mm, lobes acute;

stamens attached at different levels;

style 0.2–0.4 mm, entire or 2-lobed.
Capsules

globular, 2–3 mm.

ellipsoid to globular, (2–)2.5–4 mm.
2n

= 20.

= 40.

Limosella australis

Limosella aquatica
Phenology Flowering May–Aug(–Oct). Flowering Apr–Oct.
Habitat Muddy or sandy pond or stream margins, often in brackish water. Periodically flooded mud of streams and ponds, estuaries, vernal pools.
Elevation 0–10 m. [0–30 ft.] 0–3200 m. [0–10500 ft.]
Distribution
from FNA
CT; DE; MA; MD; ME; NC; NH; NJ; NY; PA; RI; VA; NB; NL; NS; PE; QC; SPM; South America; Africa; Pacific Islands (New Zealand); Australia
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; AR; AZ; CA; CO; ID; MN; MO; MT; ND; NE; NM; NV; OR; SD; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; MB; NL; NT; NU; ON; PE; QC; SK; YT; Mexico; Greenland; Europe; Asia
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

In the flora area, Limosella australis is native to eastern North America and is rare in much of its range. Reports of L. australis from California are likely based on misidentified material.

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

Limosella aquatica grows primarily in fresh water; it has also been found in brackish and alkaline water. Leaves are usually spatulate; narrow-leaved plants occur throughout the range. Narrow-leaved plants in the southwest have been called L. pubiflora; there are no consistent characteristics to distinguish L. pubiflora from L. aquatica. Narrow-leaved plants in the western United States have been called L. acaulis Sessé & Mociño; these specimens do not match true L. acaulis. Clasping leaf bases are best seen on young leaves.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 339. FNA vol. 17, p. 339.
Parent taxa Scrophulariaceae > Limosella Scrophulariaceae > Limosella
Sibling taxa
L. aquatica
L. australis
Synonyms L. subulata, L. tenuifolia L. pubiflora
Name authority R. Brown: Prodr., 443. (1810) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 631. (1753)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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