I have some Frogfruit that a found in my mom's yard but plant files list two different types of Frogfruit, Phyla lanceolata and Phyla nodiflora. How do I tell the difference.
Frogfruit
The one I'm more familiar with is Phyla incisa, which has more narrow leaves with jagged, toothed margins. Phyla nodiflora has slightly wider leaves with more regular margins on the leaves. The second url shows P. lanceolata
http://www.bio.utexas.edu/courses/bio406d/images/pics/vrb/phyla_incisa.htm
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/phla3.htm
Here is a link from the wildflower center;
It seems they have two names Phyla nodiflora and Phyla incisa, for the same plant.
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PHNO2
Ah...the botanists have done it again! Guess those are just varieties of the same species now. In my south Texas field guide they are listed as two separate species. A book published in 1999. I get irritated by the botanical name-changing...but what can you do? I guess they have to do something with their spare time.
Yes, it can be very confusing, what is even worse is when the change the whole name.
Here is a shot of the leaves.
It is hard to say for sure, but I think yours is lanceolata, because of the length of the leaves.
I am sure either one will be good hosts plants for the Buckeye butterfly!
I agree with that, in any event, they are very nice plants.
Also host for Phaon Crescent in my area.
They make excellent ground cover, too. Mine's really taken off and blooming and I only planted it in early April. It was in shock, too, when I planted it so it's adjusted very well.