Chelone erwiniae (Pennell & Wherry) A.D. Nelson. Common name: Mountain Purple Turtlehead, Erwin’s Turtlehead. Phenology: Jul-Oct; Sep-Nov. Habitat: Bogs, streambanks, swamp forests. Distribution: Southern Blue Ridge from w. VA south to sw. NC, e. TN, nw. SC, and ne. GA (mapping somewhat provisional).
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: Chelone erwiniae is tetraploid; the other varieties are hexaploid (Nelson, Elisens, & Benish 1998).
Synonymy ⓘ: = Nelson (2024); = Chelone obliqua L. ssp. erwiniae (Pennell & Wherry) Pennell — Pennell (1935); = Chelone obliqua L. var. erwiniae Pennell & Wherry — FNA17, K4; < Chelone obliqua L. — GW2, RAB, S, W
Links to other floras: = Chelone obliqua var. erwiniae - FNA17
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Great Plains: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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