Xerophyllum asphodeloides — Details

Xerophyllum asphodeloides (L.) Nutt.:
United States (North America)

Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1103
Radford, A. E., H. E. Ahles & C. R. Bell. 1968. Man. Vasc. Fl. Carolinas i–lxi, 1–1183. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/636
Small, J. K. 1933. Man. S.E. Fl. i–xxii, 1–1554. Published by the Author, New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1515
Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1327
Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1968. The Pteridophytoa, Gymnospermae and Monocotyledoneae. 1: 1–482. In H. A. Gleason Ill. Fl. N. U.S. (ed. 3). New York Botanical Garden, New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1495

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National Distribution

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

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Global Range: Along the coastal plain in the pine barrens of New Jersey and south in the mountains from Maryland and West Virginia to Georgia and Alabama (Patrick 1995, Kartesz 1999).

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Physical Description

Morphology

Comments

Xerophyllum asphodeloides is disjunct from the xeric oak-hickory forests of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains to the dry sandy soils of the pine barrens of New Jersey (L. Artz 1951; W. B. Zomlefer 1997b). Xerophia, a unique alkaloid, has been reported from this species (W. Procter 1839).

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Description

Stems (0.5–)0.8–1(–1.5) m. Leaf blade 3–5 dm × 1–2.5 mm. Racemes 1.5–3 dm. Tepals oblong to ovate, 5–8 × 2–3 mm; styles 1.5–2 mm. Capsules 4–5.5 mm. Seeds 2 per locule. 2n = 30.

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Diagnostic Description

Synonym

Helonias asphodeloides Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1: 485. 1762

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Ecology

Habitat

Comments: In the New Jersey Pine Barrens, in pitch pine sandy lowlands, associated with Pinus rigida. Also in dry oak-hickory woods with a component of Pinus echinata or Pinus virginiana and in mountain woods (Radford et al. 1968, Strausbaugh and Core 1978, Patrick et al. 1995).

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Habitat & Distribution

Flowering spring--early summer. Pine barrens and dry mountain woods; 0--1400 m; Ala., Del., Ga., Ky., Md., N.J., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

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Population Biology

Number of Occurrences

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300

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Molecular Biology and Genetics

Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Xerophyllum asphodeloides

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Source: Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD)

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Conservation

Conservation Status

National NatureServe Conservation Status

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

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NatureServe Conservation Status

Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure

Reasons: Moderately widespread from the New Jersey pine barrens south along the mountains of the southeast (Kartesz 1999). Large numbers of occurrences within New Jersey and Virginia; populations elsewhere relatively few and currently under serious threat to existence.

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Trends

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)

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Threats

Comments: Somewhat threatened by land-use conversion, habitat fragmentation, and forest management practices. Radical alteration of habitat on commercial land has probably had an impact. Also threatened by succession; suppression of fire has reduced populations (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002).

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Management

Biological Research Needs: Determine if species is truly fire resistant or fire dependant. Experiment with a peripheral population to see if controlled burning enhances the flowering and survival of the population.

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Wikipedia

Xerophyllum asphodeloides

Xerophyllum asphodeloides is a species of flowering plant in the Melanthiaceae known by the common names turkey beard, eastern turkey beard, beartongue, grass-leaved helonias, and mountain asphodel. It is native to the eastern United States, where it occurs in the Appalachian Mountains and the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.^[1]^[2]

This species is a rhizomatous perennial herb growing up to 1.5 meters tall. The leaves are threadlike to linear and have serrated edges. They grow up to 50 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a long raceme of flowers with six cream-white tepals. The fruit is a capsule.^[3]

This species grows in the sandy soils of New Jersey pine barrens habitat, as well as oak-pine woods in the Appalachian Mountains. Associated species may include Quercus prinus (chestnut oak), Quercus marilandica (blackjack oak), Pinus echinata (shortleaf pine), Quercus stellata (post oak), Sassafras albidum (sassafras), Pinus rigida (pitch pine), Aster dumosus (aster), Aster paternus (white-topped aster), Cypripedium acaule (pink lady's-slipper), Polygonella articulata (jointweed), Solidago odora var. odora (sweet goldenrod), Solidago puberula var. puberula (goldenrod), Trichostema dichotomum (blue curls), Gaylussacia baccata (black huckleberry), Hudsonia ericoides (golden heather), Hudsonia montana (mountain heather), Ilex glabra (inkberry), Kalmia angustifolia (sheep laurel), Leiophyllum buxifolium (sand myrtle), Lyonia mariana (staggerbush), Myrica pennsylvanica (bayberry), Pyxidanthera barbulata (pyxie-moss), Quercus ilicifolia (bear oak), Rhus copallinum (winged sumac), Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry), and Vaccinium pallidum (hillside blueberry).^[1]

The plant is most common in New Jersey and Virginia. It is less common throughout the rest of its range. It is threatened by the loss and fragmentation of its habitat and fire suppression.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Xerophyllum asphodeloides. Center for Plant Conservation.
^ ^a ^b Xerophyllum asphodeloides. NatureServe.
^ Xerophyllum asphodeloides. Flora of North America.

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