Clasping bellflower Triodanis perfoliata subsp. biflora

Small Venus' looking-glass is a native annual in the Campanulaceae (bellflower) family.  Its common name is derived from an early botanical description of a similar appearing plant native to Europe. That was the Legousia speculum, which had seeds that were said to be as shiny as a looking glass.  The seeds of the Triodanis perfoliate subsp. biflora are too small to detect the shiny appearance. It is also said that the flattened seeds resemble a hand mirror, thus the common name.  

It is found all over the southern half of the U.S.A., Mexico and parts of South America most often in disturbed sites such as prairies, roadsides, rocky outcrops, gravel pits, open woods and grassy slopes. It prefers poor, dry, sandy or gravelly soil where there is not much competition with other plants.  

After blooming, it will fade away.  

Typical heights are up to 12", however, it can reach heights of up to 30".  Although the leaves are alternate, a pair of opposite leaves appear at the top of the stem. These leaves are somewhat larger than the lower leaves.  They are cordate and have wavy margins.  

The stems and leaves each have a milky sap.  

It has showy five petaled flowers that range in color from blue-violet to pink-purple to lavender.  The center holds a white style. The sepals, which form a cup for the flower, can have narrow triangular lobes that are shorter than the petals and form a tapered or sharp pointed tip.  The lower flowers are smaller than the upper flowers and do not open.  

Considered to be cleistogamous, whose lower, non-opening flowers are an automatic self pollinators.    

Small bees such as the Plasterer bee, Little Carpenter bee as well as bumblebees, flies, small butterflies and skippers frequent this plant. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Can become weedy. Deadheading can control its self-seeding.