Pennywort (Obolaria virginica L.)

On another trip to my favorite wildflower haunt (Taylor Hollow in northern middle TN.) I discovered another new wildflower (new to me). Like I have said before, I am a novice at this and it is still exciting to discover an yet another beautiful wildflower.

Tomorrow Judy and I are headed to Rock Island TN. to do a little camping and wildflower hunting. I hope to have some new pictures when we return.

Family: Gentianaceae

A normally colonial perennial from 3 to 6 in. tall with a mostly unbranched stem and fleshy brittle roots. Lower leaves are scale-like and opposite, while upper leaves are rounded, mostly obovate, light green with a hint of purple, to 0.6-in. long. Tubular flowers are white (or purplish-white), almost sessile, from 0.4 to 0.5-ln. long with 1 to 3 clustered in the upper leaf axils and the terminal flower solitary.

Common. Rich moist woods.

Found throughout TN, and from NJ to s IL south to FL and TX. Mar-Apr. 

Photographic Location:  Taylor Hollow State Natural Area.

The genus name is from obolos (a small Greek coin), alluding to the thick roundish leaves.