Houstonia serpyllifolia
| Houstonia serpyllifolia | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Houstonia |
| Species: | H. serpyllifolia
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| Binomial name | |
| Houstonia serpyllifolia | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
| |
Houstonia serpyllifolia, commonly called thymeleaf bluet,[3] creeping bluet, mountain bluet, Appalachian bluet or Michaux's bluets[4] is a species of plant in the coffee family (Rubiaceae). It is native to the eastern United States, where it is found in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains.[5] It has been documented in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, western Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and northeastern Georgia.[1][6]
Houstonia serpyllifolia is a low creeping perennial. It produces solitary, terminal blue flowers in spring and early summer.[7] It typically grows in moist areas, and is found habitats such as streambanks, mesic woods, grassy balds, seepy rock outcrops, and spray cliffs.[5]
The specific epithet "serpyllifolia" alludes to the resemblance between this plant and the culinary herb wild thyme, Thymus serpyllum.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families[permanent dead link]
- ^ Tropicos
- ^ NRCS. "Houstonia serpyllifolia". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- ^ Wildflowers of the United States
- ^ a b Alan Weakley (2015). "Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States".
- ^ Biota of North America Program
- ^ Chester, Edward (2015). Guide to the Vascular Plants of Tennessee.
- ^ Michaux, André. 1803. Flora Boreali-Americana 1: 85
External links
[edit]- Southeastern Flora
- William Britten Photography, celebrating life in the Smoky Mountains
- Discover Life
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