Geum geniculatum Michaux
Detail
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Botanical Name
- Geum geniculatum Michaux
- Common Name
- Bent Avens
- Synonym(s)
- Flora of Virginia Name/Status
- Not in Flora of Virginia; discovered after its publication.
- Comments
- Geum geniculatum was first found and photographed in Virginia on Whitetop Mountain in August 2021 by Amanda Treher. The identity was confirmed by Alan Weakley from photos, and further verified within a few days by close study of a single stem collected from a multi-stemmed plant to voucher this new locality and state record (Wieboldt 14263). Other then having upper styles (deciduous portion) at the lower limit (or slightly less) given in Weakley (2015), other particulars of the calyx, vestiture, and lower style trichomes all fit G. geniculatum perfectly.
Bent avens is a globally restricted, Southern Appalachian endemic previously known from only 15 sites in w. NC and e. TN. It is presumed to be native at this location in Virginia. Further inventory in 2022 by Virginia Natural Heritage Program biologists confirmed that Geum geniculatum is frequent in and around seepage areas on the upper SW slope of Whitetop. - Habitat
- The habitat on Whitetop is a mesic, northern hardwood forest with a canopy locally of yellow and sweet birches, Crataegus (near canopy height), and buckeye on a bouldery, southwesterly slope with local seepages and damp areas. Here, Geum geniculatum shows a strong microhabitat preference for seepages and seep eccotones. Associated species include: Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Monarda didyma, Athyrium asplenioides, Carex spp., and Solidago patula. Several stations occur at and slightly above 5000 ft elevation.
- Native Status
- Native
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