Houstonia caerulea | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Rubiaceae |
Genus: | Houstonia |
Species: | H. caerulea
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Binomial name | |
Houstonia caerulea | |
Synonyms | |
Houstonia caerulea, commonly known as azure bluet, Quaker ladies, or bluets, [2] is a perennial species in the family Rubiaceae. [1] It is native to eastern Canada ( Ontario to Newfoundland) and the eastern United States ( Maine to Wisconsin, south to Florida and Louisiana, with scattered populations in Oklahoma). [3] It is found in a variety of habitats such as cliffs, alpine zones, forests, meadows and shores of rivers or lakes. [4]
Houstonia caerulea is a perennial herb [2] that produces showy flowers approximately 1 cm (0.39 in) across. These flowers are four-parted with pale blue petals and a yellow center. The foliage is a basal rosette with spatula-shaped leaves. [2] Stems are up to 20 cm (7.9 in) tall with one flower per stalk. Leaves are simple and opposite in arrangement with two leaves per node along the stem. [4] It thrives in moist acidic soils in shady areas, growing especially well among grasses. [5]