Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Ditch-stonecrop - Penthorum sedoides   L.Only member of Penthorum in NC.
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Section 6 » Order Rosales » Family Penthoraceae
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AuthorL.
DistributionEssentially throughout the state, but sparingly found in the eastern counties and in the Mountains and foothills.

This is a wide-ranging species, ranging from eastern Canada south to the FL Panhandle and eastern TX.
AbundanceFairly common in the western and central Coastal Plain, but scarce in the Sandhills and the far eastern counties. Fairly common in the Piedmont, except for uncommon in the foothills and Mountains.
HabitatThis is a wetland species, growing in bottomlands, swamp openings, floodplain pools, ditches, seeps, and partly shaded marshes.
PhenologyBlooms from June to October, and fruits shortly after flowering.
IdentificationThis is a rather robust herb, with numerous branches, growing to 1.5-2 feet tall. It has alternate leaves, lanceolate to elliptical, about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide, with finely serrated margins. The inflorescences are at the branch ends, each with about 3 divergent and slender branches, each about 2 inches long, containing small whitish flowers on the tops of the branches. Without the flower clusters, this species can be tricky to identify, but the clusters of flowers on just the tops of the diverging branches should end any uncertainties, especially as it is the only member in its family (other than one other species in eastern Asia).
Taxonomic CommentsNone

Other Common Name(s)American Penthorum
State RankS4 [S5]
Global RankG5
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B.A. SorriePiedmont, small seepage within Iredell soil area, E of Carbonton Road, 27 Aug 2015. MoorePhoto_natural
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