Ellisia nyctelea (Aunt Lucy)
| Also known as: | Waterpod |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Ellisia |
| Family: | Boraginaceae (Borage) |
| Life cycle: | annual |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, shade; dry to moist soil; woods, ravines, along streams, shores, roadsides, open fields, rock outcrops, waste places |
| Bloom season: | May - June |
| Plant height: | 4 to 16 inches |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FACU MW: FAC NCNE: FAC |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flower]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/ellisia-nyctelea-aunt-lucy_0522_133212.jpg)
Stalked flowers arising singly opposite the leaves or in the leaf axils, sometimes a few flowers widely spaced at branch tips. Flowers are up to 3/8 inch (5 to 10 mm) long, tubular with 5 flaring, rounded lobes. Color is white to pale violet with purplish veins and a few to several darker purple spots on the inner surface of the lobes.
![[photo of calyx and flower stalks]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/ellisia-nyctelea_279-3.jpg)
Behind the flower is a star-shaped calyx with 5 spreading, sharply pointed lobes as long as or longer than the flower. Flower stalks are typically less than ½ inch long at flowering time, elongating to 2+ inches (to 6 cm) in fruit. The calyx and flower stalks are sparsely covered in long, bristly hairs.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/ellisia-nyctelea-aunt-lucy_0509_132810.jpg)
Leaves are opposite near the base, mostly alternate above, 1 to 2¾ inches (to 7 cm) long, up to 2 inches (5 cm) wide, deeply divided into 7 to 13 narrow segments, each segment may be further lobed in 3 to 5 parts. Surfaces are sparsely to moderately bristly-hairy, as is the short leaf stalk. Stems are usually branched, sprawling to ascending, sparsely covered in bristly hairs.
Fruit:
![[photo of devoping fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/ellisia-nyctelea-aunt-lucy_0522_132936.jpg)
Fruit is a rounded capsule about ¼ inch (5 to 6 mm) long, sparsely to moderately covered in long stiff hairs, containing 4 seeds.
Notes:
Aunt Lucy flowers are pretty inconspicuous and can easily be missed but the leaves are fairly distinctive and easy enough to spot. Stems may be erect but are more often sprawling, forming a loosely tangled mat. It can grow almost anywhere but will likely be most robust in shady, moist soil. Some years ago I came upon a colony of it growing along a dry railroad bed; its flowers were normal size but leaves were miniature. Cute.
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More photos
Aunt Lucy plant
Aunt Lucy plant
Aunt Lucy plants
miniature Aunt Lucy with Annual FleabanePhotos by K. Chayka taken in Carver, Goodhue and Ramsey counties. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2011-04-21 20:16:38
Seeing the pictures reminds me somehow of the faint, but distinct odor of the plant. I'll have to rub some this year and get back to you on how it smells.
on: 2014-06-14 22:05:31
On 6/12/14, Dr. Anita F. Cholewa, the Curator of the University of Minnesota Herbarium, informed me by email that my submitted specimen of an Aunt Lucy was being added to the Bell Museum of Natural History's collection. After 20 years of wildflowering, this is a first for me. 11" tall, it was found growing in front of a peony in a southwest-facing flowerbed here in Brown County. The deeply-divided leaves are what caught my attention.
on: 2015-05-26 16:33:00
I have three Aunt Lucy's that have volunteered in my yard this year.
on: 2015-05-26 17:57:00
If you want to view the Aunt Lucy's, my yard is in the Plymouth Library Tour on July 19.
on: 2016-05-19 05:35:23
I noticed the unusual leaves in late April growing along a trail along the top of a bluff. Shady area. On May 18, I noticed flowers so I was able to search and found this match!
on: 2017-05-14 20:45:37
Lots in my yard, last year too
on: 2019-06-03 10:02:53
I believe I stumbled onto a patch of Aunt Lucy down by a creekbed. Pretty little plant and quite different than the other foliage around. Took a couple pics so I could identify it.
on: 2021-03-31 09:06:49
There is quite a bit of it along the trails in the park--especially along the cliff side
on: 2021-05-23 18:00:47
Popped up in my Boulevard native bed
on: 2021-06-02 16:42:44
Pretty sure that's what I found on our land in Houston county. Love finding and identifying plants.
on: 2022-06-01 14:51:03
A small patch appeared this spring in the front boulevard pollinator garden. A Next Door website neighbor identified it for a nearby location on Chatsworth Ave. New to me.
on: 2023-05-28 19:54:33
I have quite a bit in my garden ! This is the first year
on: 2024-05-29 09:06:05
I found several plants growing among our ferns yesterday. Is this plant considered invasive?
on: 2024-05-29 16:07:01
Kathy, this is a native species so not considered invasive. It does often come up in disturbed soil like many weeds do, though. It is unlikely to form anything resembling a monoculture.