Spigelia anthelmia L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Loganiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Spigelia anthelmia L.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Erect, glabrous herb to 50 cm tall, branching near the bases. Leaves whorled; blades 4-15 x 2-5 cm, lanceolate or ovatelanceolate, chartaceous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base tapering to nearly rounded, the margins entire; petioles 0-2 mm long. Flowers in terminal scorpioid cymes; calyx lobes narrowly lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm long; corolla greenish white or pinkish, 5-9 mm long, stamens 5, included in corolla tube; ovary globose green, papillose, the style simple. Capsule bilobed, 5-6 mm wide, tuberculate, turning from green to straw-colored Seeds ellipsoid-ovoid, 1-2 mm long, tuberculate, brown.

  • Discussion

    Common names: water grass, worm grass

  • Distribution

    An occasional roadside weed of moist areas. Carolina (A4139), Lind Point (A3087). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Virgin Gorda; a circum Caribbean species, including the West Indies.

    West Indies| Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|