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Virginia Buttonweed, Large Buttonweed, Poor Joe - Diodia virginiana


Family: Rubiaceae - Madder family Genus Common Name: Buttonweed Native Status: NativeHerb
Diodia virginiana - Virginia Buttonweed, Large Buttonweed, Poor Joe. There are 8 species of Diodia - Buttonweed - found in the United States, although only four of these are found in the "states proper" - the other 4 species are found in the U.S. Territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Two species found on the mainland are native to the United States - Diodia teres (common names Rough Buttonweed and Poor Joe,) and this species – Virginia Buttonweed, Diodia virginiana.

While this plant is officially listed as Threatened or Endangered in Indiana and New Jersey, it also is considered a weed by some authorities, and I can attest to its weediness, with the example here photographed in an area it had taken over in a small garden patch we had. It is noteworthy, however, that it was subsequently pushed out by the much more aggressive non-native invasive Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea.) Virginia Buttonweed is a branching, sprawling plant with opposite leaves.

Found in:
AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV

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Diodia virginiana

Distribution of Diodia virginiana in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2004-July-02Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Virginia Buttonweed has an angular stem which is hairy on the angles. The four white petals are also hairy.
Diodia virginiana
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Diodia virginiana initially published on USWildflowers.com 2010-08-01; Updated 2017-01-22

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
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Code Update 20230302