Hexastylis arifolia

Hexastylis arifolia
The unique inflorescence of Hexastylis arifolia which inspire its common name, "little brown jug."
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Piperales
Family:	Aristolochiaceae
Genus:	Hexastylis
Species:	H. arifolia
Binomial name
Hexastylis arifolia (Michx.) Small
Synonyms [1]
Asarum arifoliumMichx. 1803

Hexastylis arifolia, or the little brown jug, is a perennial wildflower in the family Aristolochiaceae found in the southeastern United States, from Louisiana to Virginia, inland as far as Kentucky. ^[2] It is considered a threatened species in Florida.^{[ citation needed ]} The appearance of the flowers of Hexastylis arifolia, growing near the ground at the base of the plant, give it the common name "little brown jug."

Description

Hexastylis arifolia is an evergreen, perennial herb with no above-ground stems, spreading by means of underground rhizomes.

Leaves are hairless, of two sorts. Small, scale-like leaves adhere to the underground rhizomes, while larger green, heart-shaped leaves emerge above ground. Flowers are formed one at a time, on the ends of the rhizomes. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Foliage

Hexastylis arifolia

Hexastylis arifolia flower, cut to reveal the internal structures.

References

1. Tropicos, Hexastylis arifolia (Michx.) Small
2. Biota of North America Program, 2014 county distribution map
3. Whittemore, Alan T.; Gaddy, L. L. (1993). "Hexastylis arifolia". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America. Flora of North America North of Mexico. Vol. 2. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press.
4. Horn, Dennis; Cathcart, Tavia; Hemmerly, Thomas E.; Duhl, David (2005). Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians. Lone Pine Publishing. p. 47. ISBN   978-1-55105-428-5.
5. Small, John Kunkel (1907). "Aristolochiaceae". In Britton, Nathaniel Lord (ed.). Manual of the flora of the northern states and Canada (3rd ed.). New York: Henry Holt & Company. p. 348.