Description

• Stemodia is a genus of flowering herbs and small subshrubs in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae). Members of this genus typically have opposite or sometimes alternate leaves, often with toothed or serrated margins, and branching stems that may be hairy or glandular. Their small, tubular flowers are usually arranged in the leaf axils and may be white, pale blue, lavender, or violet, depending on the species. The flowers have two lips and develop into small capsules containing numerous seeds.

Range

• Stemodia occurs primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, with species distributed from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. Individual species occupy different portions of this range. The genus is represented in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.

Habitat

• Species of Stemodia grow in a variety of habitats, including wet ground, streambanks, marsh margins, seasonally flooded areas, grasslands, and disturbed sites. Many favour open, sunny locations and moist soils, although habitat preferences vary by species. In tropical regions, growth and flowering are often influenced by seasonal rainfall and local water availability.