Texas Wildbuds
Ruellia metzae
(Metz's Wild Petunia)
Ruellia metzae, South Llano River State Park, Kimble Co. 7428
Ruellia metzae, South Llano River State Park, Kimble Co. 7407
Ruellia metzae, South Llano River State Park, Kimble Co. 7399
Ruellia metzae, South Llano River State Park, Kimble Co. 7418
Ruellia metzae, South Llano River State Park, Kimble Co. 7424
| Scientific Name | Ruellia metzae | USDA PLANTS Symbol | RUME |
| Common Name | Metz's Wild Petunia | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 832871 |
| Family | Acanthaceae (Acanthus) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Gravel washes, limestone soils in mesquite thickets, open oak woods and grassy areas. Plant: Perennial with spreading-ascending stems branching from base, 6 to 22 inches tall; stems covered with mostly fine, glandular-pubsecent hairs. Leaves: Opposite, oblong-lanceolate to narrowly oblong-ovate blades 1-1/4 to 4-3/4 inches long and 3/8 to 1-5/8 inches wide; upper surfaces are grayish-green, lower are lighter; margins are dentate to undulate. Inflorescence: A few white flowers in a panicle at branch tips or arisng from leaf axils; funnel-shaped corollas are 2 to 2-1/2 inches long and very slightly curved, with 5 spreading lobes, less than 1-1/2 inches across; 4 stamens; glandular-hairy, linear, 5 pointed calyx lobes are 3/4-inch long or less; blossoms last less than a day and are fragile to the touch. Bloom Period: May to October. Reference: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Flowering Plants of Trans-Pecos Texas and Adjacent Areas" by Powell, Worthington and Powell and "The Genus Ruellia in Texas" by Tharp and Barkley, The American Midland Naturalist. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key | Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2025