Scientific Family
Primulaceae
Synonyms
Samolus floribundus, Samolus parviflorus, Samolus valerandi subsp. parviflorus
Other common names
brookweed
thin-leaf brookweed
water cabbage
and water rose.
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Introduced
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
4 to 32 inches
Riparian
Yes
Upright perennial; wetland species with erect to ascending stems, numbering 1 to several; basal leaves often in a rosette; small white flowers on long stalks.
Erect stems, apparent resin canals; leaves basal and on stems; stem leaves mostly alternate; blade, spatula-like to rounded, base pointed to wedge-shaped, margins usually smooth, may have rounded lobes, surfaces not hairy, sometimes obscurely glandular.Â
Habitat
Streams, seeps, springs and in moist meadow.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
5000
Flower Characteristics
Flower stems of 10 or more stalked flowers; flowers white; short triangular sepals, 1/16 inch long; shallowly lobed; oblong to oval flowers about 1/8 inch long, with 5 lobes; 5 sterile stamens opposite the sepals, ovary partly below petal bases.
Flower color
White
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stem leaves 3/4 to 5 inches long; crowded to overlapping; leaves at base without stems; blades spatula-like to rounded, margins smooth.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Stems
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Valvate (opening by valves; meeting without overlapping); dry and splits open when ripe.
Fruit type
Capsule