Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Small

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Temperate woodland

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Uncommon

About

This wild petunia grows in the open woodlands of the southeastern United States. Its seed pods explode when wet, launching tiny seeds up to three feet away from the parent.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Lamiales

Family

Acanthaceae

Genus

Ruellia

Species

Ruellia caroliniensis