The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Ludwigia repens

Etymology

repens: from Latin repere meaning to creep, means creeping

Common Name(s)

Red luwigia

Authority

Ludwigia repens Red luwigia

Family

Onagraceae

Brief Description

A wetland or aquatic, and sometimes submerged perennial species. The slender stems are often reddish when submerged, and may be creeping, floating or prostrate and rooting at the nodes. The flowers have four yellow petals and are stalkless at the base of leaf pairs. Leaves are glossy, oval and occur in opposite pairs.

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Distribution

Only known from one site at Western Springs, Auckland, but a common plant in the aquarium trade.

Habitat

Still and slow flowing shallow water bodies

Features

up to 3 cm long. branched stems ascending or floating procumbent, rooting freely at the nodes. Glossy broadly lanceolate-elliptic to suborbicular leaves opposite, usually green above and purplish below, up to 4.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, base tapering into a petiole 5–25 mm long. Flowers axillary, paired, sepals 4, triangular. Petals 4, yellow, 1–3 mm long. Stamens 4. Fruit oblong, corners rounded to barely angled, 5–7 mm long, c. 2.5 mm wide

Similar Taxa

Ludwigia palustris is very similar with opposite leaves and creeping habit, but can be distinguished by the green flowers lacking petals Ludwigia peploides subsp. montevidensis and alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides). Alligator weed also has opposite leaves, and L. peploides subsp montevidensis has yellow flowers and alternate leaves.

Flowering

January to April

Flower Colours

Yellow

Year Naturalised

2008

Origin

Native of southern USA, Mexico and the Carribean.

Reason for Introduction

Ornamental aquarium and pond plant.

Control Techniques

Not controlled in New Zealand.

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Unknown whether seed is produced in NZ, spread by stem fragmentation

This page last updated on 21 Aug 2013