Herbs, annual (sometimes perennial in south), diffusely spreading, rooting at nodes. Leaves: blade lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, lanceolate-elliptic or ovate, 1.5–5(–8) cm, 0.5–1.8(–2.2) cm, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences: proximal cyme 2–4-flowered, distal cyme of larger spathes usually exserted, 1–several-flowered; spathes solitary, pedunculate, usually distinctly falcate, (0.5–)0.8–2.5(–3.7) × 0.4–1.2(–1.4) cm, apex usually acuminate; peduncles 0.5–2(–2.9) cm. Flowers blue (rarely lavender); medial stamen anther connective with broad, transverse band of violet. Capsules 3-locular, 2-valved, 4–6.3 × (2.1–)3–4 mm. Seeds 5, brown, 2–2.8(–3.2) mm × 1.4–1.8 mm, deeply reticulate. 2n = 30.
Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Disturbed situations (lawns, gardens, and cultivated ground), moist places, and woods
Distribution
Ala., Ark., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.C., Ohio, Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., pantropical.
Discussion
The report of this plant from Minnesota (H. A. Gleason and A. Cronquist 1991) is probably based on wrongly determined material.
Selected References
None.