White-flowered petunia

Nicotiana axillaris Lamarck in J. Lamarck & J. Poiret, Tabl. Encycl. 2(3[1]): 7. 1794

Stems 1.5–7 dm. Leaf blades: proximalmost oblanceolate, distalmost lanceolate to ovate, 2–8.5 (including petiole) × 0.8–3.5 cm, margins entire. Pedicels 1.5–8 cm. Flowers: calyx 8–17 mm, lobes 4–14 mm; corolla ivory to white (lobe apex sometimes drying pale pink), veins often green or dark purple (drying brownish), salverform, tube 2.8–5.2 cm, limb 2.5–5.5 cm diam.; stamens inserted near midpoint of corolla tube, not surpassing style; anthers and pollen yellow; filaments green; pistil 3.2–4.5 cm. Capsules 5–12 mm. 2n = 14.

Flowering May–Oct. Waste places, along railroads and roadsides, poor soil; 0–400 m; introduced; Ala., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., W.Va.; South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay); introduced also in Australia.

Specimens of Petunia axillaris are often misidentified as P. ×atkinsiana, especially if there is some slight color in the corolla. Petunia × atkinsiana with white corollas sometimes has the blue pollen and anther color of P. integrifolia.