Texas Wildbuds

Ruellia metzae

(Metz's Wild Petunia)

_DSC1056%20copy

Ruellia metzae, South Llano River State Park, Kimble Co. 7428

_DSC1056%20copy

Ruellia metzae, South Llano River State Park, Kimble Co. 7407

_DSC1056%20copy

Ruellia metzae, South Llano River State Park, Kimble Co. 7399

_DSC1056%20copy

Ruellia metzae, South Llano River State Park, Kimble Co. 7418

_DSC1056%20copy

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		 Click Here
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
Back to White/Green Flowers

Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County

© Tom Lebsack 2025

Every attempt is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and relevant information, but the completeness or accuracy of any information presented on this website cannot be guaranteed. I use authoritative references to insure high standards of accuracy and review and update the information frequently.