{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}} {{For|the genus of hydroids|Sertularella}} {{redirect|Aunt Lucy|the fictional bear|Paddington Bear}} {{speciesbox |image = Ellisia nyctelea.JPG |status = G5 |status_system = TNC |display_parents = 2 |genus = Ellisia |parent_authority = L. |species = nyctelea |authority = (L.) L.<ref name=GRIN>{{GRIN||451585|title=Ellisia nyctelea|accessdate=August 1, 2015}}</ref> |synonyms = ''Ipomoea nyctelea'' <small>L.</small><ref name=GRIN/><br/>''Nyctelea nyctelea'' <small>(L.) Britton</small> |synonyms_ref = <ref name=ITIS>{{ITIS|ID=31360|taxon=''Ellisia nyctelea''}}</ref> }}
'''''Ellisia''''' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hydrophyllaceae, containing the sole species '''''Ellisia nyctelea'''''.<ref name=WFO_4000013230>{{Cite WFO |title=''Ellisia'' L. |id=4000013230 |access-date=2025-12-23}}</ref> It is native to North America, where it is also known as '''Aunt Lucy''', '''false baby blue eyes''', and '''waterpod'''.<ref name=ITIS/> The genus was named in honor of British naturalist John Ellis, a contemporary of, and correspondent to, Carl Linnaeus.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=18170 |title=Ellisia nyctelea (L.) L. |website=SEINet |publisher=SEINet Arizona-New Mexico Chapter |access-date=April 19, 2016}}</ref> It was published and described by Linnaeus, in his book Species Plantarum ed.2 on page 1662 in 1763.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Ellisia'' L. {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330605-2 |website=Plants of the World Online |access-date=6 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
==Description== ''Ellisia nyctelea'' is an annual plant that grows to {{convert|4|to|16|in|cm|0|spell=in}} tall. Lower leaves are arranged oppositely on a somewhat succulent stem, while upper leaves are alternate. The hairy leaves are typically {{convert|4|in|spell=in}} long by {{convert|1|in|spell=in}} wide and are deeply lobed or divided, with seven to 13 lobes or leaflets on each leaf.<ref name=IL_WF>{{cite web |url=http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/aunt_lucy.htm |title=Aunt Lucy (Ellisia nyctelea) |website=Illinois Wildflowers |date= |author=Hilty, John |accessdate=August 1, 2015}}</ref>
The small {{convert|1/4|in|mm|spell=in|adj=mid|-diameter}} flowers are found on short slender stalks arising from the leaf axils. Each flower has five white or light blue petals that are united at the base to form a tube; these may be streaked or dotted with purple coloration. The calyx is hairy, green, and has five large teeth.<ref name=IL_WF/>
==Range and habitat== ''Ellisia nyctelea'' is widespread in North America, although it is largely absent from northern Canada, northern New England, the southeastern United States and the west coast of the United States.<ref name=USDA>{{PLANTS|id=ELNY |taxon= Ellisia nyctelea |accessdate= August 1, 2015}}</ref> It is found both in disturbed, open habitats with bare soil, as well as in deciduous forests.<ref name=IL_WF/>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
*{{Commonscat-inline|Ellisia}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q10272012|from2=Q15587305}}
Category:Hydrophyllaceae Category:Flora of the United States Category:Flora of Canada Category:Monotypic Boraginales genera Category:Plants described in 1763