Aconitum reclinatum
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aconitum reclinatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to the eastern United States and is endemic to the Appalachian Mountains.[2]
| Aconitum reclinatum | |
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| Aconitum reclinatum in bloom | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Aconitum |
| Species: | A. reclinatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Aconitum reclinatum | |
Description
Aconitum reclinatum is a perennial herb with weak, sprawling stems typically 1–3 ft (30–90 cm) tall.[3] Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and round in outline, often up to 15 cm (6 in) wide, and are palmately divided into 3–7 coarsely toothed, wedge-shaped segments.[3]
The flowers are borne in loose, elongate panicles from upper leaf axils and stem tips. They are yellowish-white to cream-colored and bilaterally symmetrical, consisting of five petal-like sepals, the uppermost forming a hood or helmet that encloses two smaller petals.[3] The fruit is a beaked, ellipsoid follicle.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species occurs in rich, mesic forests of the Appalachian Mountains, particularly in cove forests along brookbanks, in seepages, and in periglacial boulderfield with groundwater influence.[3] It is most commonly associated with mafic substrates such as amphibolite, metagabbro, or greenstone, and only rarely occurs on sandstone or granitic substrates.[3]
Regional ecological data indicate that the species occupies mesic to hydric environments with mineral soils and is associated with acidic substrates.[4]
A. reclinatum is a self-incompatible, protandrous species and is likely pollinated by animals.[1] Populations may be affected by deer browse and habitat disturbance, including logging and wetland alteration.[1]
Distribution
Aconitum reclinatum is a Southern and Central Appalachian endemic, occurring from southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia south to western North Carolina and northeastern Tennessee.[3][1]
Occurrence data compiled by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) indicate hundreds of documented records across its range, including herbarium specimens and verified observations.[5]
Taxonomy
Aconitum reclinatum was first described by Asa Gray in 1843 in The London Journal of Botany.[6] It is widely accepted as a distinct species by major taxonomic authorities.[2][5]
It belongs to a group of eastern North American species that includes Aconitum uncinatum, with which it may occasionally co-occur.[3]
Conservation
According to NatureServe, Aconitum reclinatum is ranked G3G4 (vulnerable to apparently secure), reflecting a moderately restricted range and potential threats.[1] It is considered critically imperiled (S1) in Tennessee and Pennsylvania, and vulnerable (S3) in several other states.[1]
Although the species may be locally abundant in parts of its range, threats include habitat alteration, logging, deer browsing, and disturbance to wetland and seepage habitats.[1]