# Ellisia

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellisia
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{{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.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus)) 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](/source/Nathaniel_Lord_Britton)</small>
|synonyms_ref = <ref name=ITIS>{{ITIS|ID=31360|taxon=''Ellisia nyctelea''}}</ref>
}}

'''''Ellisia''''' is a [genus](/source/genus) of [flowering plant](/source/flowering_plant)s in the family [Hydrophyllaceae](/source/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](/source/John_Ellis_(naturalist)), a contemporary of, and correspondent to, [Carl Linnaeus](/source/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](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ellisia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellisia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellisia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.