Baby Jump-up

Mecardonia procumbens

meek-err-DOAN-ee-ah pro-COME-bens

Scrophulariaceae

Native to:  Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, and tropical America

Florida abundance and distribution:  Occasional in Florida, mostly in southern and central parts of the state, but reported also from the western end of the panhandle.

Recognition:  Usually a small sprawling plant with opposite toothed leaves 1-3 cm long.  The tiny bright lemon yellow flowers are the best diagnostic character.  The petals barely extend past the green sepals and the mouth of the flower is not wide open, looking slightly squeezed together.

Potentially confusion species:  Although easily overlooked, upon close examination this little plant is distinctive, at least when in bloom.

Other:  Although baby jump-up occurs on edges of ponds, streams and cypress prairies, in south Florida it seems to be more common as a weed in lawns, golf courses, and nurseries, where it benefits from irrigation.

Contributed by: David Black, Ph.D.