Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Plant Species - Rawlings ...

Scientific Name Common Name Rank Status
Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. Global N.C. U.S.
Watch Category 5a and 5b. NC NHP does not actively maintain files on W5 species occurrences.
W5a - rare because of severe decline - species which have declined sharply in North Carolina, but which
do not appear yet to warrant site-specific monitoring. Most species in this category have undergone declines
of more than 50% (in many cases more than 90%) from their pre-Columbian status. Reasons for decline
include exotic pests or pathogens, massive modification of the landscape, suppression of natural fires, and
failure of reproduction. Because many of these species were once abundant or even dominant in parts of
North Carolina, they may still be fairly common or frequently encountered, despite the strong decline. If
current trends continue, however, many of these species will be threatened with extirpation in all or a major
part of their ranges in North Carolina.
Watch Category 5b (Exploited Plants) These are generally widespread species, at least within their
physiographic province, that are in commercial demand and are often collected and sold in high volume.
Such high volume collection can cause local extirpation and is not sustainable in the long run . This category
has been created to bring attention to the issue before commercial collection of these species gets to the point
where these species become rare. Not included in this category are species that are already listed in other
sections of this rare plant list. The NHP requests information on illegal collection incidents, but does not
otherwise maintain files on W5b species occurrences.
Scientific Name Common Name Rank Status
Province: Habitat (counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. U.S.
Actaea racemosa Common Black-cohosh S4 G4 W5B
MPC: rich cove forests, other mesic
and moderately to very fertile forests
(Burke, Catawba, Cleveland,
McDowell, Rutherford)
Aletris farinosa White-tubed Colicroot S5 G5 W5B
CPM: pine savannas, pine flatwoods,
seepage bogs, upland woodlands,
roadbanks (Burke, McDowell,
Rutherford)
Allium tricoccum Red Ramps S4 G5 W5B
M: cove forests and mesic slope forests
Aristolochia serpentaria Virginia Snakeroot S4 G4 W5B
PMC: dry to mesic forests (Burke,
Catawba, Cleveland, McDowell,
Rutherford)
Chamaelirium luteum Devil's-bit S5 G5 W5B
MPSC: rich, mesic, wooded coves and
slopes; and moist slopes, bottomlands,
wet savannas (Burke, Catawba,
Cleveland, McDowell, Orange,
Rutherford)
Cimicifuga americana Mountain Black-cohosh S4 G4 W5B
M: rich cove forests and slopes, at
moderate to high elevations (Burke)
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens Large Yellow Lady's-slipper S3 G5T5 W5B
PM: rich, mesic forests (Ashe, Avery*,
Buncombe, Burke, Clay*, Durham,
Gaston*, Graham, Granville, Guilford*,
Haywood*, Henderson, Jackson*, Macon,
Madison*, McDowell, Mecklenburg*,
Mitchell*, Orange, Person, Polk*,
Randolph*, Richmond, Rockingham*,
Rowan, Rutherford, Stokes*, Swain*,
Transylvania, Wake, Watauga)
Galax urceolata Galax S5 G5 W5B
MPC: rocky woodlands, mountain
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