emergent
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Wetland and Aquatic Plants of Oklahoma

Interactive Keys: Emergent

Purple, Blue, and Red Flowers
 
4. Flowers with five petals or lobes 
            a. Hydrophyllaceae
            b. Campanulaceae
          c. Clusiaceae
            d. Gentianaceae
            e. Verbenaceae

Waterleaf (Hydrophyllaceae)

False fiddleleaf (Hydrolea ovata Nutt. ex Choisy)
Native perennial. 
                                                                                                                         click thumbnails to enlarge

Hydrolea ovata map                                    Hydrolea ovata

NWI status: OB

Oneflower fiddleleaf (Hydrolea uniflora Raf.) 
Native perennial.

Hydrolea uniflora map                           Hydrolea uniflora

NWI status: OBL

Bellflower (Campanulaceae)

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis L.)
Native perennial.

Lobelia cardinalis map                              Lobelia cardinalis

Note: The flowers do not produce nectar, but are visited by hummingbirds nonetheless.  A very popular garden plant.  However, it produces lobeline, an alkaloid which can cause paralysis and death.  Used by the Cherokee for treatment of colds, croup, fever and headaches, syphilis and worms.

NWI status: FACW+

Downy lobelia (Lobelia puberula Michx.)
Native perennial.

Lobelia puberula map                            Lobelia puberula


NWI status: FACW-

Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica L.) 
Native perennial.

Lobelia siphilitica map                       Lobelia siphilitica

Note: Used by the Cherokee for treatment of colds, croup, fever and headaches, syphilis and worms.

NWI status: OBL 

Saint Johnswort (Clusiaceae)

Lesser marsh St. Johnswort (Triadenum tubulosum (Walt.) Gleason) 
Native perennial.

Triadenum tubulosum map                                  Triadenum tubulosum

Note: Glands are present at the base of the flower (receptacle).

NWI status: OBL

Virginia marsh St. Johnswort (Triadenum virginicum (L.) Raf.) 
Native perennial.

Triadenum virginicum map                                   Triadenum virginicum

Note: stamens in groups of 3 with orange glands.

NWI status: OBL

Greater marsh St. Johnswort (Triadenum walteri (J.G. Gmel.) Gleason) 
Native perennial.

Triadenum walteri map                               Triadenum walteri

Note: Greater marsh St. Johnswort has blunt sepals and the leaves are on stalks (petioles) with black glandular dots.

NWI status: OBL 

Gentains (Gentianaceae)   

Soapwort gentian (Gentiana saponaria L.)
Native perennial.

Gentiana saponaria map                                   Gentiana saponaria

NWI status: FACW-

Vervain (Verbenaceae)

Swamp verbena (Verbena hastata L.) 
Native perennial.

Verbena hastata map                                 Verbena hastata

Note: Eastern cottontails have been known to eat the shoots.  A larval food plant for buckeye butterflies.  The Cherokee used as a tonic and to treat diarrhea, fever, and coughs.  The Delaware used to treat chills.

NWI status: FAC


Last update: 2/27/04
Comments to : Bruce Hoagland

bhoagland@ou.edu

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