Pineland Squarestem
Melanthera nivea
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Windward Is.
Loddiges, Conrad, 1743?-1826 Conrad, Loddiges & Sons,Edward H. Rust (Firm) Rust, Edward H Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection,Edward H. Rust (Firm)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Melanthera
- Species:
- Melanthera nivea
- USDA Symbol:
- MELI6
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Helcystogramma melantherella
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown following fire; common in fire-maintained coastal and pine flatwoods habitats.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment in warm conditions.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI