| Houstonia serpyllifolia | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae | 
| Clade: | Tracheophytes | 
| Clade: | Angiosperms | 
| Clade: | Eudicots | 
| Clade: | Asterids | 
| Order: | Gentianales | 
| Family: | Rubiaceae | 
| Genus: | Houstonia | 
| Species: | H. serpyllifolia  | 
| Binomial name | |
| Houstonia serpyllifolia | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
  | |
Houstonia serpyllifolia, commonly called thymeleaf bluet,[3] creeping bluet, mountain bluet, Appalachian bluet or Michaux's bluets[4] is a species of plant in the coffee family (Rubiaceae). It is native to the eastern United States, where it is found in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains.[5] It has been documented in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, western Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and northeastern Georgia.[1][6]
Houstonia serpyllifolia is a low creeping perennial. It produces solitary, terminal blue flowers in spring and early summer.[7] It typically grows in moist areas, and is found habitats such as streambanks, mesic woods, grassy balds, seepy rock outcrops, and spray cliffs.[5]
The specific epithet "serpyllifolia" alludes to the resemblance between this plant and the culinary herb wild thyme, Thymus serpyllum.[8]
References
- 1 2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
 - ↑ Tropicos
 - ↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Houstonia serpyllifolia". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
 - ↑ Wildflowers of the United States
 - 1 2 Alan Weakley (2015). "Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States".
 - ↑ Biota of North America Program
 - ↑ Chester, Edward (2015). Guide to the Vascular Plants of Tennessee.
 - ↑ Michaux, André. 1803. Flora Boreali-Americana 1: 85
 
External links
- Southeastern Flora
 - William Britten Photography, celebrating life in the Smoky Mountains
 - Discover Life
 
