Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_7694.JPG-07-12-2021
Flower name (scientific): Gratiola neglecta Torrey PY: 1819. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) gra-TEE-oh-luh na-GLEK-tuh
Flower name (common): Clammy Hedge-hyssop
Family name (common): Plantain
Family name (scientific): Plantaginaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Latin gratia, meaning grace or agreeable, with reference to the assumed medical uses of the plant.
    Specific epithet: Latin for ignored or overlooked.
Common name origin: Hedge-hyssop was a name used by herbalists for Gratiola officinalis and later applied to other Gratiola species. Hedge presumably reflects the habitat, though not where the present species is found, and hyssop suggests a connection to some aromatic herb of the genus Hyssopus. The plant stem is densely pubescent with glandular hairs which are sometimes described as slightly sticky, which may contribute the term clammy, or it may be connected with the wet often muddy habitat of the plant.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.3 to 0.4 inches (8 to 10 mm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, Solitary
Plant description:
     Size: 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple
     Size: Leaves up to 6 cm long and typically up to 12 mm wide.
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, linear to narrowly elliptic, oblanceolate, or elliptic-obovate (FNA), lower linear-oblong, middle and upper lanceolate, oblanceolate, or ovate (IL)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon
Bloom time (typical): May to October
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual
Habitat: Streambanks, marshes, pond margins, mudflats, sun or semi-shade, wet, muddy soil.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Gratiola neglecta is similar to Gratiola virginiana (Round-Fruited Hedge Hyssop). To differentiate the two species: G. neglecta has pubescent stems and ovoid seed capsules, whereas G. virginiana has glabrous stems and globose seed capsules. G. virginiana has not been reported from Wisconsin or Minnesota, but has been observed in Michigan and more southern states. Lindernia dubia (False Pimpernel) shares the same type of habitat as G. neglecta and has some resemblance. The corolla of G. neglecta is white with the lower exterior pale yellow or green with fine veins, whereas the corolla of L. dubia is white with blue-violet patches. The stem of G. neglecta is densely pubescent with glandular hairs, whereas the stem of L. dubia is glabrous or sparsely glandular-hairy. Gratiola species have bractlets behind the calyx, whereas Lindernia species do not.
Ethnobotany:
Latitude: 44.800087
Longitude: -91.507858
Altitude: 235.90
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Price, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vilas, Washburn, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY)
In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, QC, SK)
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na