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Hedyotis greenei - Greene's star violet

Scientific Family
Rubiaceae
Synonyms
Stenotis greenei, Houstonia greenei, Oldenlandia greenei
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
1 to 6 inches
Riparian
No

Stems erect, slender and diffusely branched; leaves opposite, without hairs; flowers small, white, pink to pale blue with narrow yellow throats, trumpet-shaped with a narrow throat, solitary in leaf axils or in rounded clusters with other flowers.

Small annual, to 6 inches tall; leaves opposite, smooth, narrow, slightly spatula-like, stipules smooth; flowers 4-petaled, <1/4 inch, white, pink to pale blue, single or in small clusters; styles of 2 forms, earliest not stemmed, later ones stemmed.

Habitat

Found in rich soils in woodlands, outcrops, rocky slopes, and pine-oak or oak-juniper communities.

Plant Community
Montane Conifer Forest
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
8000

Flower Characteristics

Small, white, pink or pale blue; trumpet-shaped with a narrow yellow throat; flowers 1/8 inch long; 4 lance-shaped lobes; 4 slender, tapered sepals.

Flower color
White, pink, pale blue
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Rounded

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Slender stems, erect and widely branching; opposite, hairless leaves are narrow though slightly spatula-shaped; 1/4 to 1-1/2 inches long, 1/16 to 1/4 inch wide.

Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaf attachment
Opposite
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Capsules rounded, 4-sided, 1/16 to 1/4 inch long and wide; stemless or on short stems.

Fruit type
Capsule

3-angled with blunt or rounded tip; less than 1/16 inch long.