Pink Turtlehead is the only native Chelone sp. (Turtlehead) in Illinois with pink to deep rosy pink flowers. It is an attractive plant with turtlehead-shaped flowers. The other native Turtlehead within the state is Chelone glabra (White Turtlehead), which has white (or slightly pink) flowers and shorter petioles (less than ¼"). Sometimes Chelone lyonii (Lyon's Turtlehead) is grown in flower gardens, although it has not naturalized within the state. This species is native to the Appalachian mountains in the SE. Lyon's Turtlehead has flowers that are about the same color as those of Pink Turtlehead, but it has wider leaf blades and longer petioles (½–1½" long). Other common names that refer to Chelone obliqua include Rose Turtlehead, Purple Turtlehead, and Red Turtlehead. Plants that are offered for sale as 'Chelone obliqua' by mass-market nurseries may be hybrids of undetermined parentage, rather than the open-pollinated species.

This native perennial plant is 1-3' tall and usually unbranched; it will form side branches if the central stem is broken. The central stem is light green, glabrous, and terete (round in cross-section); there are pairs of opposite leaves along its length that have a tendency to droop. The leaf blades are up to 6" long and 2¼" across; they are lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, hairless, and serrated along their margins. The upper surface of each leaf blade is medium to dark green, while its lower surface is pale green. At the base of each leaf blade, there is a short petiole about ¼–½" in length. The central stem terminates in a short spike of flowers. Each flower is 1–1½" in length; it has a corolla with a flattened tubular shape and a short calyx with 5 blunt teeth. The two-lipped corolla is pink to deep rosy pink; the upper lip has the shape of a broad hood, while the lower lip has 3 outer lobes. The central lobe of the lower lip is often elevated slightly above the 2 lateral lobes when the flower is fully open. Behind the lower lip of the corolla, there is a conspicuous patch of white or pale yellow hairs. The calyx is light green and glabrous; it has teeth that are broadly ovate or oval-ovate. Underneath the calyx of each flower, there are short appressed bracts that resemble the teeth of the calyx. The blooming period occurs from late summer to early fall and lasts about a month. There is no floral scent. Ovoid seed capsules develop after the corollas of the flowers turn brown and fall off. Each seed capsule is about ½" long; it is initially light green and glabrous, but later turns brown and splits open to release the seeds. The root system is rhizomatous and vegetative colonies of plants occasionally form.

Chelone obliqua var. speciosa Pennell & Wherry:
United States (North America)

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Current range includes northeastern and southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois and Indiana, and western Kentucky, plus a disjunct site(s) in Michigan. Historical occurrences in Minnesota, Iowa, and Arkansas.

Pink Turtlehead is an uncommon wildflower that is found primarily in southern and western Illinois; elsewhere in the state, it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include wet to moist floodplain forests, swamps, soggy meadows and thickets, and partially shaded seeps and springs. This species usually occurs in high quality habitats. It is sometimes grown in flower gardens.

Chelone obliqua var. speciosa is frequently confused with Chelone obliqua. Fernald (1970) distinguished C. obliqua from var. speciosa through the following characteristics: C. obliqua has short-acuminate bracts and C. obliqua var. speciosa's bracts are more obtuse acute. The sepals of C. obliqua are slightly ciliolate where as the sepals of C. obliqua var. speciosa are copiously ciliolate. C. obliqua's corolla is 2.5-3.2 cm long; conversely, C. obliqua var. speciosa's corolla is 3-3.7 cm long.

Chelone obliqua var. speciosa can be further distinguished from C. glabra by differences in corolla color and position of its leaves. In C. obliqua var. speciosa, the corolla is rose-purple with leaves being sessile or on petioles over 5 mm in length. The corolla in C. glabra is greenish-yellow to creamy white, with leaves sessile or on petioles less than 5 mm in length (Mohlenbrock 1975).

Comments: Chelone obliqua var. speciosa occurs in alluvial or floodplain forests, swamps, marshes, seepage springs and on the banks of creeks, streams, rivers, small ponds and lakes (Mohlenbrock 1975, Holt et al. 1974, Fernald 1970, Deam 1940).

Chelone obliqua var. speciosa is known from Arkansas through a single collection from a woods in Greene County in 1893 (Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission 1992,). The population has probably been destroyed and it is not likely to be rediscovered (Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission 1992). It is unlikely that the species is still extant in the state (E.B. Smith 1988).

In Illinois, C. obliqua var. speciosa is found in low woods and swampy meadows in the southern third of the state (Mohlenbrock 1975).

Chelone obliqua var. speciosa is relatively abundant in Indiana (Homoya 1993). The primary habitat in Indiana is floodplain forests and seepage springs (Deam 1940, Homoya 1992, Homoya 1993). It is relatively common in wet woods (e.g., floodplain forest with ephemeral pools) with the water coming from seepage or rainfall (Homoya 1993). Collections of Indiana plants at the University of Minnesota Herbarium (MIN) described habitat as a cypress swamp (Knox County) and a low woods on the border of Little Cypress Swamp. Associated plant species include Acer rubra, A. saccharinum, Quercus palustris, Q. bicolor, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Celtis occidentalis, Carya spp., Impatiens pallida, Polygonum spp. and Urtica spp. (Homoya 1993, Nelson 1993b).

There are no known extant occurrences of C. obliqua var. speciosa in Iowa. Its presence in the state is verified by historic (pre-1950) collections from six counties, mostly along the Mississippi River (Pearson 1993). Habitat within the state has been described as "marshes" (Roosa et al. 1989).

The primary habitat in Kentucky includes slough woods along railroad tracks, drainage ditches, muddy swamps, creek margins, bottomland hardwood forests, beaver ponds and the flat, wet-mesic, open edges of cypress swamps (Kentucky Natural Heritage Program 1992, Tennessee Valley Authority Regional Heritage Program 1992).

A University of Minnesota Herbarium specimen is thought to have bee collected from a "swamp" in southern Minnesota. It is the sole record from the state (Ownbey and Morley 1991).

In Missouri, occupied habitat includes swampy meadows, margins of springs in calcareous open meadows, openings in bottomland forests and low or swampy woods in valleys along or near streams (Steyermark 1963, Holt et al. 1974, Morgan 1984, Smith 1993a). According to Kurz (1993), populations occur in wooded areas elevated immediately above the wet floodplain forest zone (typically occupied by sycamore, cottonwood and silver maple). Associated plant species include Acer negundo, Acer rubrum, Carex spp., Carya ovata, Eriogonum spp., Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Pilea pumila, Quercus palustris and Urtica dioica (Nelson 1993b).

Pink Turtlehead is an uncommon wildflower that is found primarily in southern and western Illinois; elsewhere in the state, it is rare or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include wet to moist floodplain forests, swamps, soggy meadows and thickets, and partially shaded seeps and springs. This species usually occurs in high quality habitats. It is sometimes grown in flower gardens.

The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by bumblebees; sometimes the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird also visits the flowers of Chelone spp. (Turtleheads) for their nectar. The bitter foliage is usually avoided by White-Tailed Deer and other mammalian herbivores.

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

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 21 - 80

Comments: About one hundred extant occurrences: Missouri (8--3A, 2B, 1C, 1D, 1E; 2H, 2X), Kentucky (12--1C, 11E), Illinois (6 counties; S3), Indiana (>20--of ranked EOs, 1A, 3B, 1BC, 2C; 13H, 2X), and Michigan (1). Historic populations from Arkansas (1), Iowa (historic records from 6 counties), and Minnesota (1 potential historic occurrence).

Herbivory:

Stamp (1986) identified two common larval seed predators found on C. obliqua. These included Phytomyza cheloniae (Agromyzidae: Diptera) and Endothenia hebesana (Tortricidae: Lepidoptera). These predators have been observed to attack 25% of the seed capsules in a population and destroy 21% of its seeds (Stamp 1986).

Several specialist herbivores are known to feed upon Chelone glabra. Two species of sawflies (Macrophya nigra and Tenthredo grandis) are host-specific to turtlehead (Stamp 1984). The black and white larvae feed singly through the summer months and pupate in the fall. Another major herbivore is the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas phaeton). Its larvae feed in communal webs until early August. After over-wintering, the larvae emerge in the spring and often decimate their host plants by eating them to the ground (Stamp 1982).

Insect defoliation prior to development of flower stalks reduces floral and seed output significantly (Stamp 1984). Severe herbivory after flower buds appeared decreased seed output. Individual plants that are defoliated twice in one year (checkerspots in the spring and sawflies in the summer) often produce no flowers and consequently, no seeds. Since foliage-eating insects can have a great impact on individual plants, distribution and abundance of the seed resource can be greatly affected (Stamp 1984).

Because of the severe levels of herbivory and seed predation observed for C. obliqua, Stamp (1986) speculated that the species may reproduce only occasionally via seed. Instead, populations may be maintained and even expand through clonal growth.

Pollination:

The corolla of Chelone species is fitted by size and form to pollination by bumblebees (Pennell 1935). Bees land on the lower lip, gaining foothold by clasping the hairs on the raised palate. By its weight, it opens the orifice, crawling within the throat of the corolla. While doing so, it parts the filaments and anthers and the pollen falls upon the bee's thorax (Pennell 1935).

Two bumblebee species (Bombus vagans and B. fervidus) were identified as exclusive visitors to C. obliqua flowers (Heinrich 1975). Individuals that learned to enter the large zygomorphic flowers were rewarded by relatively large amounts of nectar and served to pollinate other plants. These individuals search widely for C. obliqua flowers even when they are widely spaced and hidden within other standing vegetation.

The flowering season of C. obliqua var. speciosa is August - September. Fruiting dates are September - October (Morgan 1984).

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N3 - Vulnerable

Rounded Global Status Rank: T3 - Vulnerable

Reasons: Twenty total post-1970 occurrences are known from Missouri and Kentucky, but the species is relatively common in portions of Indiana and perhaps Illinois. Several states on the periphery of its range possess no known extant occurrences. Recent research suggests that the varieties of C. obliqua as described by Pennell (1935) are accurate (Dennison 1993).

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable to decline of 30%

Comments: Current trends in C. obliqua var. speciosa are not well-known, although it is likely that populations have been lost in recent years to habitat conversion, flooding, and other activities.

Comments: Major threats to C. obliqua var. speciosa include the physical destruction of habitat through forest clearing and activities that damage the hydrological environment (including drainage ditches), typically for agricultural and construction activities (Homoya 1992).

Long-term flooding and excessive siltation of floodplain systems may negatively impact individuals and populations. In 1993, several extant and historic sites along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers in Missouri were inundated with 15-20 feet of water for a period of 2-3 months (Kurz 1993, Smith 1993a). It is not known how C. obliqua var. speciosa will respond to these conditions.

Succession of habitat may threaten populations by shading out individuals through increased cover from tree canopies (Smith 1993b), shrubs, and vines. Activities that eliminate or alter the natural flooding regime (or elimination of other actions that maintain open areas within floodplain forests) may serve to extirpate populations from historic habitat.

Infestations of seed predators and insect herbivores could potentially weaken and destroy individuals if they persist over several years. Seed production under such instances is significantly lowered, reducing the likelihood of recruitment into the population via this means.

Heavy grazing by livestock can be a significant threat to existing populations (Homoya 1993). Disturbance to the habitat through soil compaction and direct damage to the plants through grazing may arise from such activities.

Needs: Sufficient size should be incorporated into preserves to allow for relatively large-scale flood-induced disturbance regimes in floodplain systems. Sufficient buffer should be maintained to reduce threats from areas outside the preserve.

Restoration Potential: Given the presence of suitable habitat, restoration of Chelone obliqua var. speciosa to a given site should be highly successful. The taxon has been successfully grown from seed (Steyermark 1963, Kurz 1993) and through root cuttings (Denison 1993, Kurz 1993).

In natural settings, evidence suggests that restored populations may flourish. Cuttings taken from a plant reared by Denison (1993) were used to transplant individuals to a number of state- owned sites along the Missouri River. Introduced plants became established at a number of sites and reproduced to as many as 20 individuals in three years (Smith 1993b). The current fate of all populations is not currently known, although at least two were lost due to competition from vegetation and perhaps other factors (Kurz 1993). Physical management may need to be undertaken to promote long-term survival of an introduced population.

The species also grows well under cultivation in rich soil under shade or sun (Steyermark 1963, Denison 1993, Kurz 1993). Transplanted individuals and those grown from seed establish very well and expand in size rapidly (Kurz 1993). Because of this trait, C. obliqua var. speciosa could be grown in monocultural plantings for seed harvest or root division to conduct large- scale restorations.

Preserve Selection and Design Considerations: Preserve designs should be based primarily on conserving and protecting the processes that maintain occupied habitat. These processes include maintaining the dynamic hydrological regime of floodplain forests and swamps and the perennial water flow through seepage areas. Sufficient size should be incorporated into preserves to allow for relatively large-scale flood-induced disturbance regimes in floodplain systems. Sufficient buffer should be maintained to reduce threats from areas outside of the preserve.

Management Requirements: In areas where forest openings are closing through succession, it may be necessary to thin (not clear-cut) the forest canopy to increase light levels available to plants. Individuals do not do well when competing with other tall herbaceous vegetation (such as Ambrosia sp.) and vines (such as Campsis radicans and Vitus sp.) (Kurz 1993) and are typically outcompeted. In sites where herbaceous vegetation and vines are a problem, clearing may be necessary to sustain populations.

Maintenance of hydrologic levels and disturbance regimes is necessary to provide preferred habitat for the species. Flood regimes and periodic tree-falls may provide openings in the canopy and reduce competition from other herbaceous plants and vines.

Management Programs: At this time, no known management programs are in place for this species within its entire range.

Monitoring Programs: No known monitoring programs are in place for this taxon across its range.

Management Research Programs: Allan Nelson (1993a) is conducting an evolutionary study of four polyploid species of Chelone using traditional electrophoretic data to identify the progenitors of the species. These include C. cuthbertii, C. glabra, C. lyoni and C. obliqua. Morphological and isozyme (using chloroplast and nucleoribosomal DNA (RFLP)) analyses are being conducted.

Contact: Allan D. Nelson, Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Oklahoma, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, Oklahoma 73019. Telephone: (405) 325- 9672.

Management Research Needs: Studies to determine successful management and restoration techniques are needed in order to maintain and enhance extant populations, as well as to reintroduce and restore populations within suitable habitat.

Comments: Taxonomy: The taxonomic status of this taxon has been questioned over the years. Despite its current status, recent research suggests that the taxonomy of C. obliqua var. speciosa may be accurate.

Preliminary cluster analyses of morphological characteristics by Nelson (1993a) suggested that the three varieties of C. obliqua identified by Pennell (1935) are valid. Preliminary results of isozyme analyses suggest that the variety arose separately in at least two different locations. Plants collected in Indiana appear to have originated from different progenitors than those collected in Missouri (Nelson 1993a).

Another common name for this species is pink turtlehead (Mohlenbrock 1975, Yatskievych and Turner 1990). Illustrations of the species can be found in Steyermark (1963) and Morgan (1984).

The preference is partial or dappled sunlight, consistently moist conditions, and a fertile loamy soil with abundant organic matter. The foliage is rarely disfigured by disease.

Stewardship Overview: Management is needed to protect habitats from being lost to destructive clearing activities, urbanization and development of various forms. Suitable habitats need to be kept free of hydrological perturbations which might degrade their condition. Habitats with closing forest canopies due to woody plant succession should be managed with selective thinning of trees to ensure that high levels of light reach populations on the forest floor. Tall herbaceous plants and vines which can outcompete C. obliqua var. speciosa should be controlled by careful clearing. Populations and habitat need to be kept free of grazing animals which cause soil compaction and trampling of plants. Research to determine successful management and restoration techniques is needed in order to maintain and enhance extant populations, as well as to reintroduce and restore populations within suitable habitat. Other research regarding the identification and control of insect herbivores and seed predators is needed. Inventories should be conducted to locate extant populations and monitoring and management programs need to be initiated.