Ruellia pedunculata
(Stalked Wild Petunia)
Ruellia pedunculata, Martin Creek Lake State Park, Rusk Co. 6290
Ruellia pedunculata, Martin Creek Lake State Park, Rusk Co. 6286
Ruellia pedunculata, Martin Creek Lake State Park, Rusk Co. 6285
Ruellia pedunculata, Martin Creek Lake State Park, Rusk Co. 6283
| Scientific Name | Ruellia pedunculata | USDA PLANTS Symbol | RUPE4 |
| Common Name | Stalked Wild Petunia | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 34385 |
| Family | Acanthaceae (Acanthus) | SEINet Reference | Click Here |
| Description | Habitat: Seasonally wet (mesic) soils in open woodlands, streamsides and along roadsides. Plant: Perennial up to 28 inches tall with a single main stem, with lateral, ascending, usually flowering stems growing from the leaf axils; stems have short recurved hairs and are pale green to slightly reddish; floral branches may be from 1/4 to 2 inches long, the length decreasing upward. Leaves: Opposite leaf pairs lanceolate to ovate-oblong, mostly tapered to a sharp point at the tip, 3/4 to 4-1/3 inches long, on short petioles up to 5/8-inch long; surfaces are at least sparsely hairy on both sides; edges are minutely hairy, entire or undulate. Inflorescence: Solitary flowers at the tips of peduncles (flower stalks) that are about 2-3/4 inches long and have 2 leaf-like opposite bracts; large flowers 2+ inches long and 1+ inches wide with 5 widely spreading, broad, rounded lobes and 4 white stamens and one pistil; lobes are uniform lavender color with dark lavender veins; calyx has five 1/2-inch long linear, bristle-like lobes. Corollas last up to a day before dropping off. Bloom Period: April to August. Reference: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, Arkansas Native Plant Society and Missouri Plants. |
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 2024