# Florida Pusley (*richardia scabra*)

The Florida Pusley is a small, green plant that grows close to the ground. It has pretty little flowers that are great for attracting butterflies!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** It lives in warm, sunny areas, often found along roadsides and in gardens.
- **Also known as:** Creeping Richard, Florida Wildflower, Pusley, Richardia

![Florida Pusley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Richardia.scabra-Close.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Florimagix, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Richardia.scabra-Close.jpg)

## Appearance

The Florida Pusley has hairy stems and leaves, often growing low to the ground. It produces tiny, star-shaped white flowers, sometimes with a faint purple blush, that form in clusters at the leaf axils.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Gentianales
- **Family:** Rubiaceae
- **Genus:** Richardia

## Interesting facts

- "Pusley" comes from an old word meaning "little pig," possibly because pigs love to eat it!
- Its tiny seeds can remain viable, ready to sprout, in soil for many years!
- The pretty white flowers of Florida Pusley typically open in the morning and close later in the day!
- This plant is sometimes called "false ipecac" due to its traditional medicinal uses.

## Special abilities

- **Seed Shooter:** Florida Pusley can forcibly launch its seeds away from the parent plant, helping it spread widely and quickly.
- **Deep Anchor:** Florida Pusley has a strong taproot that helps it reach deep water, making it resilient during dry spells.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Its small white flowers attract various insects, ensuring successful pollination and seed production.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-30 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Year-round
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Honey bees visit its tiny white flowers.
- **Eaten by:** Fall armyworm (*Spodoptera frugiperda*) — Caterpillars feed on its leaves.
- **Eaten by:** Gray Garden Slug (*Deroceras reticulatum*) — Slugs may graze on its tender foliage.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

Always wash your hands after playing with plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Florida Pusley?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Florida Pusley?

15-30 cm

### How wide does Florida Pusley spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Florida Pusley?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Florida Pusley bloom?

Year-round

### Is Florida Pusley edible?

Yes

### Is Florida Pusley toxic?

None

### What is Florida Pusley's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Orlando Loch Haven Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/orlando-loch-haven-park) — Florida, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Florida Pusley: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/florida-pusley)