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Lamiaceae Taxonomy Browser
Scutellaria floridana Chapm.
EOL Text
Rounded Global Status Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Reasons: A very restricted range in the Florida panhandle - Liberty, Franklin, and Gulf counties, Florida. Most of the recently confirmed populations are protected on the Apalachicola NF; populations on private land (largely St. Joe Paper Co. lands) are mostly destroyed. Habitat is decreasing in quality and extent due to conversion to improved pasture, drainage, and clearcutting.
Global Range: Known from the Apalachicola region of the Florida panhandle from Liberty, Franklin and Gulf counties.
Historic Range:
U.S.A. (FL)
Comments: Dark, humus rich sands of pine-palmetto flatwoods, wet prairies, and savannahs. (Based on Kral 1983) Seepage slopes.
Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.
Estimated Number of Occurrences: 21 - 80
Comments: Based on recent surveys within range and habitat of the species.
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N2 - Imperiled
Current Listing Status Summary
Status: Threatened
Date Listed: 05/08/1992
Lead Region: Southeast Region (Region 4)
Where Listed:
Population detail:
Listing status: T
For most current information and documents related to the conservation status and management of Scutellaria floridana, see its USFWS Species Profile
Comments: The primary threat to this species is habitat loss/degradation as a result of conversion to pine plantations and/or pasture. Establishment of pine plantations often leads to changes in the habitat that Scutellaria floridana cannot withstand after the first few years, including changes to drainage, crowding by introduced grasses, and shading due to fire suppression. Use of ORVs occurs in nearby habitats and could affect unprotected S. floridana populations
Biological Research Needs: Determine the effects of silvicultural practices on plant.
Scutellaria floridana is a rare species of flowering plant known by the common name Florida skullcap. It is endemic to Florida in the United States, where it is known only from the Florida Panhandle. It is threatened by a number of human activities and its small population sizes make it vulnerable.[1] It is a federally listed threatened species.
This is a perennial herb growing up to 40 centimeters tall with one or more upright, square-edged stems. The tiny, narrow leaves are linear in shape with rolled edges and are just a few millimeters long. Flowers occur next to the leaves. The corolla has one lower lip and a hoodlike upper lip. It is purple–blue in color with a white spot inside.[2] Blooming occurs in April through July. Blooming is heavier in the seasons after a fire.[1]
This plant grows in soils containing humus and sand. Habitat types include flatwoods, wet prairie, bog, savannah, the transition between flatwoods and wetland areas.[2][3] The plant's habitat is fire-dependent; it is maintained by a natural fire regime of periodic wildfire. In protected areas that are managed appropriately with prescribed burns the plant is locally abundant and flowers properly.[1] In areas where fire suppression is practiced, large and woody vegetation grows up and produces shade so that the plant does not receive enough sunlight. The plant itself responds to fire. It simply does not produce flowers if it does not burn every three years.[2] Lack of fire is a main threat to the species.[1][2]
Other threats include habitat destruction during coastal development and the conversion of land to agriculture, particularly silviculture for the paper pulp industry.[1]Off-road vehicle use in the habitat is a threat.[2]
This plant occurs in Gulf, Franklin, and Liberty Counties. Most of the populations are within the Apalachicola National Forest. It can be found in St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve and Tate's Hell State Forest.[3] Many of these protected populations are healthy. Those which are found on private land, particularly in timber-growing areas, are not.[1]
References[edit]
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scutellaria_floridana&oldid=621702133 |