powdery alligator-flag

Thalia dealbata Fraser

Thalia dealbata, known as the powdery alligator-flag, is an aquatic plant in the Marantaceae family. It is native to wetlands in the southern and central United States, including the Coastal Plains and the lower Mississippi Valley. The plant is cultivated as an ornamental for its violet flowers and has shown hardiness in regions as far north as Philadelphia and Vancouver.

Description

Thalia dealbata is an aquatic species found in swamps, ponds, and wetlands. It is distributed across several U.S. states such as Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas, as well as in Belgium, Japan, and Taiwan. The plant is valued for its ornamental appeal, particularly for its violet flowers. It is hardy enough to survive in northern climates like those of Philadelphia and Vancouver. The species was first described in 1794 by Fraser.