NC Common Wetland Plants Guide: Gratiola virginiana

Coefficient of Conservatism Values (more info)

Mountains

Piedmont

Coastal Plain

National Wetland Plant List Status (more info)

Eastern Mountains/Piedmont

OBL

Coastal Plain

OBL

FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:

Thick, fleshy stem; succulent leaves. Generally reclining.

Description: Short, unbranched, reclining herb, 15 to 20 cm long, with thick stems.

Leaves: Opposite, elliptic to lance-shaped leaves, usually serrated, about 4 cm long and 1 cm wide and thick.

Flowers/Fruit: Small, white, tubular flowers on short stalks at the bases of leaves. Fruit round, at leaf bases. Blooms mainly March to May, fruiting soon after.

Habit and Range: Common in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont in wet mud or very shallow water. Found along pond shores, ditches, pools, and sunny openings in swamps.

Typical Max Plant Height (m):

0.2

Leaf Arrangement:

Opposite

Leaf Division:

Simple

Leaf Margin:

Serrated

Leaf Shape:

Lance-shaped (Lanceolate), Elliptic

Inflorescence Color:

White

Fruit Color:

Green, Brown

Lifespan:

Biennial

Group:

Dicot

Family:

Scrophulariaceae / Figwort

Ecoregions Found In:

Statewide

COMMON CONFUSIONS:

Gratiola virginiana (round-fruit hedge-hyssop) can be confused with Lindernia dubia (yellow-seed false pimpernel) and Lindernia anagallidea (longstalk false pimpernel) which have leaves that are wide at the base, unlike Gratiola virginiana.

Click here to view Lindernia dubia.

Click here to view Lindernia anagallidea.

Link to side-by-side comparisons page