False Pimpernel

(Lindernia dubia)

 

   

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

False Pimpernel (Lindernia dubia [L.] Pennell)

Identification: Flowers white with a long, tubular corolla and 5 petal lobes. Tubular part of corolla tinged with purple. Upper 2 petal lobes fused into small shelf. Lower 3 petal lobes fused into a 3 lobed banner. Flower stalks long. Flowers solitary, arising from the leaf axils. Stem smooth. Leaves fleshy, smooth, oblong-ovate, with coarsely and bluntly toothed outer margins. Plant 3 to 8 inches in height.

Distribution: Found throughout most of the United States except for some of the Rocky Mountain states.

Habitat: False Pimpernel is found in wet habitats, particularly on the shores and mudbanks of rivers, ponds, and lakes.

Flowering period: July to September.

Similar Species: The wet habitat, solitary flowers with a purple tinged corolla, and the fleshy leaves should easily identify this species.

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