Roughfruit scaleseed
Spermolepis divaricata
Apiaceae


Landscape Uses:

Wildflower gardens.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description:
Annual wildflower 4-14 inches tall with threadlike leaves 0.5-3 inches long and small white flowers.
Height:
Typically 1 foot in height, stem up to two feet.
Growth Rate:
Range:
Southern United States south to Sarasota and Martin counties. A population is also present in Dade county.
Habitats:
Disturbed sites.
Soils:
Moist to dry, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate to high; plants growing in extremely dry soils may die during extended periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
White.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy
Flowering Season:
Spring.
Fruit:
Wildlife and Ecology:
Larval host plant for black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) butterflies.
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.