American Hedge-Hyssop

Gratiola neglecta is an annual herb found in moist to wet environments across much of North America and parts of Europe. It has glandular stems that can reach up to 30 cm in height. The leaves are oppositely arranged, lance-shaped to oval, and may be toothed at the edges. The plant produces a raceme of nearly cylindrical, tubular whitish flowers, each approximately 1 cm long. Each flower is supported by a fringe of five pointed sepals. The fruit is a spherical capsule about half a centimeter in width. The species was first described in 1819 by Torr. and is widely distributed, including in the United States, Canada, and several European countries.