Appearance
"Ludwigia alternifolia" grows 2–3 feet tall on reddish-tinged stems. Leaves are deep green, sharply-pointed, and lance-shaped. They are arranged alternately on the stem and are 1.25–4 in long and 0.25–0.75 in across. The margins are smooth and sometimes slightly ciliate or reddish. The leaves either have short petioles or are sessile.Flowers are usually single, growing from the leaf axils on upper leaves. They have four yellow petals and four light green sepals. The mature fruits are brown, cubic capsules with rigid sides, about 0.25 in in length.
Naming
The genus name "Ludwiga" is for the 18th century German botanist, Christian Gottlieb Ludwig. The species name "alternifolia" references the fact that the leaves are alternate.Distribution
It is native to southern Quebec and Ontario to Kansas and south to Texas and Florida.Habitat
It grows in habitats that have full to partial sun and wet to moist soil, such as marshes, wet meadows, and swamps.References:
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