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Tofieldiaceae
Pleea

not marked as a favorite taxon Pleea tenuifolia Michaux. Common name: Rush-featherling. Phenology: Sep-Oct; Oct-Nov. Habitat: Locally abundant in wet savannas, pocosin margins, usually in peaty soil, locally abundant in a few counties in se. NC, rare inland (very rarely as far as Cumberland County, NC). Distribution: A Southeastern Coastal Plain endemic: se. NC and ne. SC south to sw. GA, Panhandle FL and s. AL (see comments in Barger et al. 2023), but apparently absent from s. SC and e. GA.

Glossary (beta!)

ID notes: In sterile condition, it is recognizable by its leathery equitant leaves, bright red at their bases.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Other Comments: When in flower in wet savannas and powerline rights-of-way in Brunswick County, Pleea visually dominates areas up to hundreds of hectares.

Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA26, GW1, K4, NS, POWO, RAB, S, S13, WH3; = Ennearina pleiana Raf.; = Tofieldia tenuifolia (Michx.) Utech — Zomlefer (1997c). Basionym: Pleea tenuifolia Michx. 1803

Links to other floras: = Pleea tenuifolia - FNA26

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 9

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image #1 of Pleea tenuifolia© Alan M. Cressler
image #2 of Pleea tenuifolia© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Pleea tenuifolia© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Pleea tenuifolia© Jay Horn source | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Pleea tenuifolia© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Pleea tenuifolia© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Pleea tenuifolia© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Tufted, erect perennial from a thick rhizome, found in wet savannas and pocosin margins, usually in peaty soil; may be locally abundant.

Stems: Stems scape-like, with 0-4 progressively smaller leaves, unbranched, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves mostly basal, whorled or 2-ranked, with overlapping bases, linear, 4-12 in. long, evergreen.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers 3-8 in a terminal raceme, each on a short stalk surrounded by 3 overlapping bracts; white; about 1 in. wide; consisting of 6 narrowly lance-shaped tepals (the outer series of 3 slightly longer and wider than the inner series of 3), 6 stamens about 1/3 the length of the tepals, and a green, conical, 3-celled ovary with 3 styles at the top.

Fruits: Fruit a 3-celled, oval capsule.

Comments:

Height: 1-2 1/2 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Tufted, erect perennial from a thick rhizome, found in wet savannas and pocosin margins, usually in peaty soil; may be locally abundant.

stems: Stems scape-like, with 0-4 progressively smaller leaves, unbranched, smooth.

leaves: Leaves mostly basal, whorled or 2-ranked, with overlapping bases, linear, 4-12 in. long, evergreen.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers 3-8 in a terminal raceme, each on a short stalk surrounded by 3 overlapping bracts; white; about 1 in. wide; consisting of 6 narrowly lance-shaped tepals (the outer series of 3 slightly longer and wider than the inner series of 3), 6 stamens about 1/3 the length of the tepals, and a green, conical, 3-celled ovary with 3 styles at the top.

fruits: Fruit a 3-celled, oval capsule.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: NC, SC, GA, FL & AL



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