''Cuphea viscosissima'', also known as blue waxweed, clammy cuphea or (ambiguously) as "

tarweed Tarweed or tarplant is a common name for several plants and may refer to: *Various plants in the tribe Madieae of the family Asteraceae: **'' Anisocarpus madioides'' **'' Blepharizonia'' **'' Centromadia'' **''Deinandra'' **''Harmonia'' **''Hemizon ...

", is an herbaceous plant in the loosestrife family. It native to the eastern

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, 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 (mineral), lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of Science, scientific disciplines. In zoology ''Calcare ...

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 ''Cuphea lanceolata'', also known as the cigar flower, is an annual herbaceous flowering plant in the genus ''Cuphea'' of the family Lythraceae. Description ''Cuphea lanceolata'' reaches on average a height of . It has a branched stem with oppos ...

'', 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