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Penthorum sedoides - (image 1 of 4)

Taxonomy

Family: Saxifragaceae

Habitat

Muddy shores and ditches. This specimen was found in the shrub zone of a bog.

Associates

In ditches with Alisma subcordatum, Asclepias incarnata, Boltonia latisquama recognita, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Leersia oryzoides, Lippia lanceolata, Ludwigia palustris americana, Ludwigia polycarpa, Lycopus americanus, Lythrum alatum, Mentha arvensis villosa, Mimulus ringens, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Prosperpinaca palustris crebra, Rumex verticillatus, Scutellaria lateriflora.

Distribution

ME west to Ontario and MN, south to FL and TX.

Morphology

Herbaceous, creeping perennial to 2' high. Leaves to 4" long, lanceolate to elliptic, serrulate, sessile to short-petiolate. Flowers to 4 mm wide, greenish to pink, in terminal cyme-like panicles; petals usually absent; sepals 5; stamens 10. Fruit a beaked, 5-parted capsule.

Notes

Flowers mid June to early October

Wetland indicator: Obligate

Some authors place this genus in Crassulaceae (sedum family) or Penthoraceae (ditch stonecrop family). The former classification would not seem to fit since this species lacks succulent leaves, although that seems to be the most widely accepted one.

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.

The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

Niering, W. A. 1979. The Audubon society field guide to North American wildflowers: eastern region.
Knopf/Random House, New York.

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

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