| Author | (B.H. Long ex Britton, A. Braun, & Small) Eames | |
| Distribution | Scattered over much of the Coastal Plain, though in several discrete areas -- the southwestern portion, and in the northeastern portion near the coast. Probably absent from the northwestern Coastal Plain, and west of the Fall Line.
This species has a very limited range, from NJ and southeastern VA south only to eastern GA, essentially in the Coastal Plain. | |
| Abundance | Rare to locally uncommon in the southwestern Coastal Plain, but there is only a one record from the Sandhills proper. Very rare to rare elsewhere in the Coastal Plain, but as it is small and decumbent, it is certainly overlooked. It is a Significantly Rare species. | |
| Habitat | This species is more often found growing around impoundment, pond, and lake margins, and in shallow pools, rather than from open, standing water. It does grow in marshes (edges), ditches, and a few other wetland types. As it is a prostrate plant, it cannot occur in heavily shaded places with much competition. | |
| Phenology | Blooms from June to September, and fruits shortly after flowering. | |
| Identification | This is one of just a few prostrate species of Ludwigia; however, as with nearly all members of the genus, the majority are not showy and attract little attention from biologists. This species grows along the ground or mud or in shallow water to about 1.5 feet long, with small and opposite leaves. These leaves are spatulate or oblanceolate, much wider near the apex than near the base, only about 3/4-1-inch long and much narrower. The other two prostrate Ludwigia -- the very common L. palustris and the scarce L. repens -- have flowers in axils that are sessile, whereas L. brevipes has its axillary flowers on pedicels about 1/5-1-inch long or more. This species may have petals or may not; if so, they are yellow and oblanceolate, and the flower is about 1/2-inch across, making the identification quite obvious. The sepals are triangular and about 1/3-inch long, with a sharp tip. If you see a creeping plant with spatulate leaves, take a close look. The other two species have leaves rather elliptical, but you really need to see flowers or capsules on stalks to be sure you have this scarce species. But, do not look for the yellow flowers, and petals may be absent, or may have easily dropped; look for the opposite, spatulate leaves. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | None
| |
| Other Common Name(s) | Coastal Plain Water-purslane | |
| State Rank | S1 | |
| Global Rank | G2 | |
| State Status | SR-T | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | OBL link |
| USACE-emp | OBL link |
