Seedbox
Ludwigia alternifolia
The seed pods are nearly perfect cubes that act as natural salt-shakers, releasing seeds through a small pore in the top when the stem is shaken by the wind.
- Scientific name
- Ludwigia alternifolia
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Myrtales › Onagraceae › Ludwigia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Wet meadows, marshes, swamps, ditches, and along the banks of slow-moving streams.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (Sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and mineral nutrients from soil).
- Range
- Eastern United States, Central United States, Southern Ontario, Canada
- Size
- 60 to 100 cm tall with 1 cm yellow flowers.
- Lifespan
- Perennial (Lives for several years)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage for development and competition from aggressive invasive species like Purple Loosestrife.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. You can safely observe and touch the plant. In winter, the dry seed boxes can be gently shaken to hear them rattle. Always be mindful of the fragile wetland soil to avoid erosion.
Ludwigia alternifolia , commonly known as bushy seedbox and rattlebox , is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family Onagraceae.
Photo: Fritzflohrreynolds, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/28d15091-ef0a-4da6-8e49-c6994fdeeb2b.md