Ellisia nyctelea (Aunt Lucy)
| Also known as: | Waterpod |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Ellisia |
| Family: | Boraginaceae (Borage) |
| Life cycle: | annual |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, shade; moist woods, thickets, along streams, open fields |
| 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/aunt-lucy_0526_091650.jpg)
A single flower at the end of a hairy stem that arises opposite a leaf axil, or a few flowers in a loose cluster at the end of branching stems. Individual flowers are white or paled blue-violet, about ¼ inch across and less than ½ inch long, tubular with 5 rounded lobes. There are a few spots of purple on the inside of each lobe, and bluish purple lines along the length of the tube. The star-shaped bract behind the flower is very hairy and rather large compared to the flower.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/aunt-lucy_0526_091752.jpg)
Leaves are up to 4 inches long and 2 inches wide, bristly hairy, deeply divided into 7 to 13 narrow segments, each segment may be further lobed in 3 or 5 parts. Attachment near the base of the plant is opposite, but alternate in the upper part of the plant. The leaf stalk is densely hairy while the main stem may have just a few scattered bristly hairs.
Notes:
Aunt Lucy flowers are pretty inconspicuous and can easily be missed but the leaves are fairly easy to spot. It may grow erect but is more often sprawling and likes disturbed soil. It is apparently adaptable, as well, as I came upon a colony of it with miniature leaves but full-sized flowers, growing along a dry railroad track. I thought it might be a different species but there is nothing else quite like it, so I believe it was just an adaptation to the dryness of the particular site. Ellisia was in the Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf) family but this has been merged into Boraginaceae (Borage).
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More photos
Aunt Lucy plant
plant just starting to bloom
miniature Aunt Lucy with Annual Fleabane
more plants
Aunt Lucy raceme
Aunt Lucy plant
plant just starting to bloom
miniature Aunt Lucy with Annual Fleabane
more plants
Aunt Lucy racemePhotos by K. Chayka taken at Battle Creek and Long Lake Regional parks, Ramsey County. 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.