Ludwigia peploides (H.B.K.) Raven   ssp. peploides   = Jussiaea repens var. californica   Onagraceae                                                                                   (Evening-PrimroseFamily)                                                                                    Native   Yellow Water Weed       Water Primrose

                                           July Photo

Plant Characteristics: Mostly glabrous perennial herb with leaves oblong, obtuse to acute, subentire, plainly and evenly pinnate-veined, the blades 1-4 cm. long, on petioles 1-2.5 cm. long, or longer especially on floating lvs.; pedicels 1-4 cm. long in fr.; fls. mostly 5-merous, pubescent about the base of the stamens and style; sepals lanceolate, 4-7 mm. long; petals yellow, obovate, pinnately veined, 10-14 mm. long; stamens ca. 1/3 as long; pistil as long as stamens; caps. hard, quite cylindric, ca. 2 cm. long, at length reflexed, 2-3 mm. thick; seeds in 1 row in each locule, included in the endocarp, somewhat triangular in cross-section, 1-1.5 mm. long.

Habitat:  Pools and slow streams, below 2000 ft.; s. Calif. to Ore., S. Am.  May-Oct.

Name:   Named for Christian Gottlieb Ludwig (1709-1773), a professor in Leipzig.    Greek, peplis, a plant name for one of the spurges.  (Jaeger 187).  Greek, oideos, suffix meaning form of.  (Jaeger 172).

General:  Uncommon in the study area.  Quite common in the freshwater stream running through the 23rd St. area.  Photographed specimens were at 23rd Street and the Santa Ana Heights Flats.  (my comments).    Neither Munz nor Jepson list the number of species in the genus.      Jussiaea repens misapplied to Ludwigia peploides.  (Hickman, Ed. 1345). May be serious wetland or agricultural weed.  (Hickman 800).       Munz, (Flora So. Calif) does not list ssp. of this species; the 1993 Jepson Manual lists ssp. peploides and montevidensis.  I have confirmed ssp. peploides as our local ssp.  (my comment).

Text Ref:  Robbins et al. 317;Hickman, Ed. 800; Munz, Calif. Flora 925; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 612; Robbins et al. 317; Roberts 30.

Photo Ref:  July 1 84 # 6,10,11; June-July 87 # 24A; April-May 94 #23.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.

First Found:  July 1984.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 156.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 11/20/04.  

                               July Photo                                                                July Photo