Peruvian Primrose Willow

Appearance

The stems are green or brownish-green in colour and are much-branched. Younger stems are usually rounded and hairy (i.e. pubescent).

The leaves are alternately arranged, or rarely paired, and are stalkless (i.e. sessile) or borne on very short stalks (i.e. petioles). These leaves (5-12 cm long and 1-3 cm wide) have prominent veins and are covered in hairs (i.e. pubescent). They are generally egg-shaped in outline (i.e. ovate), oval (i.e. elliptic) or elongated in shape (i.e. lanceolate) with entire margins. Their have upper surfaces are usually darker green than their paler undersides.

The yellow flowers (2-4 cm across) are borne singly on stalks originating in the forks (i.e. axils) of the upper leaves. These flowers usually have four petals (1-3 cm long and 1-3 cm wide), but occasionally there are five or six petals present. They also have four large green sepals that are persistent and turn reddish in colour as the fruit begins to mature. Flowering occurs mostly during late summer and autumn.

The reddish or brownish coloured fruit is an upright, four-angled, and slightly elongated capsule (10-25 mm long and 6-10 mm wide) containing large numbers of seeds (i.e. 1000-3000). These tiny seeds (0.6-0.8 mm long) are light brown in colour and almost rounded in shape (i.e. sub-globular).

Naming

Jussiaea peruviana L.
Jussiaea grandiflora

Distribution

Geographic Division: Caribbean
North America
Australia
Middle America
South America
Southern Asia

Jurisdiction/Origin: Continental US, Introduced
Caribbean Territories, Native
Mexico, Native

Habitat

wetland shrub usually growing 2-3 m tall, but occasionally reaching up to 4 m in height. It loses its leaves during winter (i.e. it is deciduous) in cooler climates and sometimes also floats freely on the water surface.