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Boerhavia diffusa
Red Spiderling
Wineflower
Florida native
A frequent plant of dry disturbed sites throughout much of Florida. The range includes the southeastern coastal sates from North Carolina to Alabama, plus Louisiana, Texas, California, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and other parts of the world.
A sprawling or ascending perennial with slender stems to 1m (3 ft.) tall or more. Leaves are opposite and ovoid, mostly on the lower parts of the plant. Flowers are minute, with inconspicuous bracts. Flowers lack petals, the calyx tube is glandular with five lobes and three stamens.
This is one of the host plants for the spiderling plume moth. Also photographed on this plant was a flat faced longhorn beetle.
For more on red spiderling, read this Treasure Coast Natives blog post.
Boerhavia diffusa is a member of the Nyctaginaceae - Four o'clock family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Aug 11, 2021
