Bagpod

Description:

S. vesicaria is a robust, smooth-stemmed annual, growing to 4 m tall, with few or no branches (Figure 2). The stem tips have dense white hairs. The leaves are alternately arranged and are once even-pinnately compound. The leaves may be as long as 30 cm. Each leaf may have from 20-40 leaflets. The leaflets have smooth margins and are narrowly oblong to elliptic in shape. The leaflets may be up to 3 cm long and 6 mm wide and very hairy when expanding, becoming smooth at maturity. The stipules are not persistent. The flowers occur in the axils of the leaves. The bracts and bractlets are not persistent. The calyx tube is hairy when young, becoming smooth at maturity, and is 2-3 mm long. The corolla is 6-9 mm long. The petals are yellow and quite variable in color, often tinged with pink or red. The fruit is a dry, smooth, inflated pod, from 3-6 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide. Each pod usually contains 2 seeds.

Habitat:

Riparian area along Lake Lewisville.