Plant Gardens 101

Waterleaf family
Hydrophyllaceae
Fa-see’li-a. About 175 species of American herbaceous plants, found mostly in the northwestern states.

Description
Leaves simple or compound, alternate, fleshy, sometimes hairy, veins prominent on underside. Flowers blue, purple, or white, arranged in rolled 1-sided racemes, the raceme unrolling as the flowers open. Individual flowers on short stalks. Calyx of 5 narrow sepals, widening toward the apex, but joined at the base. Corolla bell-shaped, the petals 5, sometimes with sterile anther lobes between the petals. Stamens 5, conspicuous.

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Waterleaf family
Hydrophyllaceae
Nem-off’i-la. A North American genus comprising 11 species of annual herbs, only a few of garden interest.

Description
Some species are climbing, others are dwarf or trailing plants. All are hairy. Leaves usually much cut, alternate or opposite. Flowers showy, growing at the tips of the branches in clusters. Corolla bell-shaped, blue, white, purple, or spotted. Calyx of 5 spreading sepals alternating with additional leafy growths.

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