Nemophila aphylla (L.) Brummit - Smallflower Baby Blue-eyes
Family - Hydrophyllaceae
Stems:
Leaves:
Inflorescence:
N/A
Flowers:
Calyx.
Fruit.
Flowering - March - April.
Habitat - Swamp forests, alluvial woods, waste gorund, disturbed sites.
Origin - Native to North America.
Other information - This small species can be found scattered throughout Alabama. The plant is easy to identify becasue of its fleshy stems, divided leaves, small, white flowers, and distinctive calices. The plant can be found in moist to wet ground.
The genus name Nemophila derives from the Greek/Latin "nemor" meaning "woodland, glade" and the Greek "phil(o)" meaning "love, loving" referring to the plants habitat.
The species epithet aphylla derives from the Greek "a" meaning "without" and "phyll" meaning "a leaf" although the plant does have many leaves, even at anthesis.
Alabama Distribution:
Photographs taken off Wire Road, Macon County, AL., 4-3-05.