Ruellia nudiflora
| Ruellia nudiflora | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Acanthaceae |
| Genus: | Ruellia |
| Species: | R. nudiflora
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ruellia nudiflora (Engelm. & A.Gray) Urb.
| |
Ruellia nudiflora, the violet ruellia or violet wild petunia,[1] is a perennial plant in the acanthus family (Acanthaceae) found in North America. Despite the genus Ruellia being known as the wild petunias, they are not true petunias and are not closely related to them.[2]: 74 The species thrives in disturbed areas and can sometimes be considered a weed.[3]
Description
R. nudiflora is a perennial herb that grows 1 to 2 feet tall. It has lavender or purple flowers, which are trumpet-shaped and about 2 inches in diameter. Leaves are grayish green, pinnate, and opposite, growing about 2 to 5 inches in length. It typically blooms from April to October.[4]
Distribution and ecology
The boundary between the native range and invasive range of R. nudiflora is not fully understood. The species is found in Texas in the United States, throughout Mexico and Central America, and in the Caribbean. It has invasive properties in the Caribbean islands and some regions of Mexico, especially the Yucatán Peninsula, where it is considered a weed.[3]
R. nudiflora is a ruderal species and does well in disturbed environments, making it common along roadsides and in areas of human activity. It has been known to adapt to its local surroundings to survive.[5] It can also thrive in regions with varying levels of precipitation, depth, and soil pH, and the species can be found in a variety of habitats,[3][6] including areas of moisture in the Sonoran Desert.[2]: 74
References
- ^ NRCS. "Ruellia nudiflora". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 25 October 2015.
- ^ a b Sonoran Desert Wildflowers, Richard Spellenberg, 2nd ed., 2012, ISBN 9780762773688
- ^ a b c Vargas-Mendoza, Carlos F.; Ortegón-Campos, Ilka; Marrufo-Zapata, Denis; Herrera, Carlos M.; Parra-Tabla, Víctor; Vargas-Mendoza, Carlos F.; Ortegón-Campos, Ilka; Marrufo-Zapata, Denis; Herrera, Carlos M.; Parra-Tabla, Víctor (June 2015). "Genetic diversity, outcrossing rate, and demographic history along a climatic gradient in the ruderal plant Ruellia nudiflora (Acanthaceae)". Review of Mexican Biodiversity. 86 (2): 508–520. doi:10.1016/j.rmb.2015.04.034. hdl:10261/122279. ISSN 1870-3453.
- ^ "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
- ^ Ortegón-Campos, Ilka; Abdala-Roberts, Luis; Parra-Tabla, Víctor; Carlos Cervera, J.; Marrufo-Zapata, Denis; Herrera, Carlos M. (2012-05-01). "Influence of multiple factors on plant local adaptation: soil type and folivore effects in Ruellia nudiflora (Acanthaceae)". Evolutionary Ecology. 26 (3): 545–558. doi:10.1007/s10682-011-9507-5. hdl:10261/38617. ISSN 1573-8477.
- ^ Bautista F, Aguilar Y, Rivas H et al. (2007) Los suelos del estado de Yucatán. Importancia del binomio suelo-materia orgánica en el desarrollo sostenible. Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional y Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura