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

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Watch Category 6 ( regionally rare) includes species which are rare in one region of North Carolina, while being uncommon to abundant within another region. These regional rarities, generally within-state disjuncts, are significant for protection of genetic variation and long-term viability of species. A list of North Carolina's rare plants is, of course, determined by the arbitrary, political boundaries of the state. Biological rarity, however, is determined by the natural boundaries of physiography, geology, soils, and climate. These and other physical, biological, and historic factors have determined the evolutionary history and phytogeography of plants currently occupying what is now called "North Carolina." Rarity in one part of the state — especially when disjunct from the region of greater abundance — can have as much biological significance as disjunctions from another state. Disjunct populations nearly always have some level of genetic differentiation from populations in the main part of a species' range. If this genetic differentiation is great enough — and obvious enough — the disjunct population may be recognized as a separate species, subspecies, or variety. In many cases, however, the genetic differentiation is not great enough (or is not obvious enough with the relatively crude taxonomic tools which have been applied to most taxa) to have warranted the naming of a distinct taxon. Further study will likely show that many disjunct populations do warrant taxonomic status. Preservation of biodiversity requires not only preventing the extinction of species, but also maintaining genetic diversity within the species. The long-term viability of a species is dependent on the genetic diversity represented within and between different populations of the species. Disjunct and peripheral populations are especially likely to contain genetic material rare or absent in the bulk of the species' populations. Moreover, within-state disjunctions are likely to serve as indicators of regionally unique or unusual habitats. Attention to such species is especially important in county natural area inventories and regional planning. The following list of Watch Category 6 plants is not exhaustive, but represents some of the most important and significant within-state disjunctions. An emphasis has been placed on species which are disjunct rather than peripheral — that is, which have a demonstrable gap in their North Carolina ranges. Examples are Rhododendron catawbiense, which is rather common at high to medium elevations in the mountains, but occurs in small, disjunct populations in the lower Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain, and Pogonia ophioglossoides, a primarily Coastal Plain species, occurring in rare bogs in the mountains. SANDHILLS COASTAL PLAIN Comptonia peregrina Anemone quinquefolia Drosera rotundifolia Aster cordifolius Leiophyllum buxifolium Castilleja coccinea Pinguicula caerulea Clematis ochroleuca Pleea tenuifolia Clematis virginiana Rhododendron catawbiense Delphinium tricorne Rhododendron minus Leiophyllum buxifolium Magnolia tripetala Pellaea atropurpurea Platanthera lacera [= Habenaria lacera] Stenanthium gramineum Viola blanda 114
Watch List Category 6 continued MOUNTAINS Aristida virgata Orontium aquaticum Bartonia virginica Platanthera cristata [= Habenaria cristata] Brasenia schreberi Pogonia ophioglossoides Calopogon tuberosus Pycnanthemum flexuosum Cardamine bulbosa Rhynchospora gracilenta Chamaedaphne calyculata [= Cassandra calyculata] Sabatia brachiata Clematis crispa Sium suave Coreopsis gladiata Smilax laurifolia Cuscuta corylii Sphagnum cuspidatum Eriocaulon compressum Sphagnum strictum Eriocaulon decangulare Sphagnum tenerum Eryngium integrifolium Toxicodendron vernix [= Rhus vernix] Gaylussacia dumosa Triadenum virginicum [= Hypericum virginicum] Justicia americana Utricularia biflora [including U. gibba] Kalmia carolina [= K. angustifolia var caroliniana] Utricularia subulata Lespedeza angustifolia PIEDMONT Aconitum uncinatum [lower Piedmont only] Paronychia argyrocoma Actaea pachypoda Phalaris arundinacea Aralia nudicaulis Pieris floribunda Aralia racemosa Pinus strobus [lower Piedmont only] Asplenium montanum [lower Piedmont only] Platanthera flava var flava [=Ha benaria f. var f.] Berchemia scandens Pogonia ophioglossoides Campanulastrum americanum [= Campanula americanum] Rhododendron catawbiense Carex torta Rhynchospora chalarocephala Cornus alternifolia Salix humilis Dicentra cucullaria Sarracenia flava Dryopteris intermedia Sarracenia purpurea Eleocharis microcarpa Saxifraga micranthidifolia Eriocaulon compressum Scirpus pungens [= S. americanus in RAB] Eryngium integrifolium Sium suave Hydrophyllum canadense Smilax laurifolia Hydrophyllum virginianum Symplocarpus foetidus Lachnocaulon anceps Tsuga canadensis [lower Piedmont only] Diphasiastrum tristachyum [= Lycopodium t.] Xyris baldwiniana Magnolia virginiana Xyris curtissii Myrica heterophylla Xyris jupicai 115
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Natural Heritage Program List of Ra
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This list was origi
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What are the main drivers of these
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target conservation activity most e
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North Carolina Rank. Natural Herita
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G4 101-1000 Apparently Secure - Unc
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P Proposed A species which has been
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Scientific Name Common Name Status
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Page 66 and 67: Scientific Name Common Name Status
Page 78 and 79: Watch Category 2 (W2 - rare, but ta
Page 80 and 81: Scientific Name Common Name Rank St
Page 118 and 119: PLANT TAXA ENDEMIC TO NORTH CAROLIN
Page 120 and 121: Chamaecrista nictitans var aspera -
Page 122 and 123: Solidago hispida - M (calcareous wo
Page 124 and 125: Paspalum vaginatum W3 SR-P S1S2 G5
Page 126 and 127: NAME CHANGES SINCE 2004 RARE LIST P
Page 128 and 129: Area of apparently suitable habitat
Page 130 and 131: Abies fraseri ..................4,
Page 132 and 133: Corallorhiza maculata ............8
Page 134 and 135: Ilex longipes ....................3
Page 136 and 137: Porpidia macrocarpa ............111
Page 138 and 139: Trientalis borealis ...............
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Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Plant Species - Rawlings ...

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