North America Non-native Plant

Reussia

Botanical name: Reussia rotundifolia

USDA symbol: RERO

Native status: Not native but doesn't reproduce and persist in the wild

Reussia: A Mystery Plant That Might Not Exist If you’ve stumbled across the name Reussia rotundifolia (commonly called reussia) in your plant research, you might be scratching your head trying to find more information about it. You’re not alone! This particular plant name presents quite the botanical puzzle. The Search ...

Reussia: A Mystery Plant That Might Not Exist

If you’ve stumbled across the name Reussia rotundifolia (commonly called reussia) in your plant research, you might be scratching your head trying to find more information about it. You’re not alone! This particular plant name presents quite the botanical puzzle.

The Search for Reussia rotundifolia

Despite extensive searching through botanical databases, native plant resources, and horticultural literature, reliable information about Reussia rotundifolia appears to be virtually non-existent. This raises some important questions about whether this is actually a recognized plant species.

What This Means for Gardeners

When you encounter a plant name that can’t be verified through reputable sources, it’s worth taking a step back. Here are a few possibilities for why information might be so scarce:

  • The name might be misspelled or misidentified
  • It could be a very recently described or extremely rare species
  • The plant might be known by a different scientific name
  • It may not be a valid species name at all

How to Verify Plant Information

Before adding any plant to your garden, especially one with limited available information, consider these steps:

  • Check multiple reputable botanical databases and native plant societies
  • Consult with local extension offices or master gardeners
  • Verify the source where you first encountered the plant name
  • Look for the plant in established nurseries or botanical gardens

Alternative Approaches

If you’re looking for native plants to add to your garden, consider working with well-documented species that have established growing guidelines and known ecological benefits. Local native plant societies and extension services can provide excellent recommendations for plants that are proven to thrive in your specific region.

The Bottom Line

While the mystery of Reussia rotundifolia remains unsolved, this serves as a good reminder to always verify plant information through multiple reliable sources before making gardening decisions. When in doubt, stick with well-documented native species that come with proven track records and clear growing instructions.

Have you encountered this plant name somewhere specific? We’d love to help solve this botanical mystery! Feel free to share any additional information or sources you might have found.

Reussia

Classification

Group

Monocot

Kingdom

Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division

Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Subdivision
Class

Liliopsida - Monocotyledons

Subclass

Liliidae

Order

Liliales

Family

Pontederiaceae Kunth - Water-Hyacinth family

Genus

Reussia Endl. - reussia

Species

Reussia rotundifolia (L. f.) Castell. - reussia

Plant data source: USDA, NRCS 2025. The PLANTS Database. https://plants.usda.gov,. 2/25/2025. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA