''Cuphea viscosissima'', also known as blue waxweed, clammy cuphea or (ambiguously) as " tarweed", is an herbaceous plant in the loosestrife family. It native to the eastern

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

, where it is most often found in open, rocky

calcareous Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines. In zoology ''Calcareous'' is used as an a ...

areas.Missouri Botanical Garden
/ref> It is the most common and widespread ''Cuphea'' in the U.S. This species is notable for its sticky stems. It produces a purple-red flower in late summer. Flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. This species is morphological similar to '' Cuphea lanceolata'', which is found in Mexico. It can be distinguished from ''Cuphea lanceolata'' by its smaller flower.

References

viscosissima Flora of the United States Plants described in 1772 Taxa named by Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin {{Myrtales-stub