frog fruit
Phyla lanceolata (Michx.) Greene
Phyla lanceolata, known as frog fruit, is a flowering plant in the Verbenaceae family. Native to the southern half of North America and parts of Mexico, it thrives in moist and wet habitats, including disturbed areas like irrigation ditches. This perennial herb forms a matlike growth with spreading stems up to 50 cm long, often rooting at the nodes. Its lance-shaped or oval leaves reach up to 6 cm in length and have toothed or partially toothed edges. The inflorescence is a spherical spike of tiny, densely packed white flowers, sometimes tinged with blue or purple, which elongates into a cylindrical form as the fruits develop.
Description
Phyla lanceolata is found in Ontario, the United States (excluding the northwestern quadrant), and much of Mexico. It is commonly known as frog fruit or lanceleaf fogfruit. The plant is well-adapted to wet environments and disturbed areas. It was first described in 1899 and is characterized by its low-growing, spreading habit. The inflorescence arises on a peduncle several centimeters tall and produces small white flowers. The species is widely distributed across the southern United States and parts of Mexico, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, and others.
Other common names
lance-leaf fogfruitnorthern fogfruitnorthern frog-fruitlance-leaved fogfruitmarsh frogfruitnorthern frogfruitfrog fruitlanceleaf fogfruitlanceleaf frog fruit
Distribution
Ontario · Global · Alabama · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Mexico Northeast · Mexico Northwest · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Nebraska · Nevada · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · Ohio
Synonyms
Lippia lanceolataLippia lanceolata var. recognitaLippia nodiflora var. acutifoliaLippia nodiflora var. lanceolataPhyla lanceolata f. ahlesiiPhyla lanceolata var. recognitaPhyla nodiflora var. texensisVerbena scabraZappania lanceolata
