Ruellia caroliniensis

Ruellia caroliniensis
Photo taken by Gil Nelson
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order:	Scrophulariales
Family:	Acanthaceae
Genus:	Ruellia
Species:	R. caroliniensis
Binomial name
Ruellia caroliniensis (J.F. Gmel.) Steud.
Natural range of Ruellia caroliniensis from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Description

“Is a smaller, less upright perennial varying from 31 to 52 cm tall, depending on growing conditions. Bluish-purple flowers occur in early spring and extend into late summer. Leaves are oval, 6.7 to 7.5 cm long. Flowers are succeeded by seed capsules 0.4 cm wide x 1.3 cm long with brown seeds, 2.5 mm wide. “Each R. caroliniensis capsule contained an average of 5.2 seeds” (Wilson et al 2004). “Highest germination was achieved at 30/20 degree Celsius in light.” (Wilson et al 2004).

Common name: Carolina wild petunia

Distribution

R. caroliniensis is widespread throughout Florida, occurring in varied habitats including sandhills, flatwoods and hammcosks (Wunderlin and Hansen, 2003).”- Wilson et al 2004. Is considered an indicator species of reference in longleaf pine sites in southwestern Georgia. Ruellia caroliniensis was among our list of vulnerable species (Kirkman 2004).

Ecology

Fire ecology

R. caroliniensis was observed to resprout one month after a fire in July of 1993 (Pavon 1995).

References and notes

• Kirkman, L.K., K.L. Coffey, R.J. Mitchell, and E.B. Moser. 2004. Ground Cover Recovery Patterns and Life-History Traits: Implications for Restoration Obstacles and Opportunities in a Species-Rich Savanna. Journal of Ecology 92:409-421
• Wilson, Sandra B. and P. Chris Wilson. 2004. Growth and Development of the Native Ruellia caroliniensis and Invasive Ruellia tweediana. HortScience 39:1015-1019.
• Pavon, M. L. 1995. Diversity and response of ground cover arthropod communities to different seasonal burns in longleaf pine forests. Tallahassee, Florida A&M University.