Parnassia asarifolia Ventenat. Common name: Appalachian Parnassia, Kidney-leaved Grass-of-Parnassus, Appalachian Grass-of-Parnassus, Brook Parnassia. Phenology: (Jul-) Aug-Nov (-Dec). Habitat: Bogs, sphagnous seeps, brookbanks, generally in more acidic habitats than P. grandifolia, up to elevations over 1800 m. Distribution: VA, e. WV, sw. AR south to GA; disjunct in the Coastal Plain of e. TX and sc. AR (in acidic seepages), but primarily in the Appalachian and Ozarkian highlands.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, FNA12, G, GW2, K4, RAB, S, S13, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WV; = n/a — Tat
Links to other floras: = Parnassia asarifolia - FNA12
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 6
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of bogs, sphagnous seeps and brook banks; generally in more acidic habitats than P. grandifolia.
Stems: Stems essentially lacking; leaves and flowering scape arise from a rhizome.
Leaves: Leaves primarily basal, long-petiolate, kidney-shaped with a notched base, 1-2 in. long and to 4 in. wide, with conspicuously curved veins.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary on a slender, smooth scape with 1 small, clasping leaf halfway up; white; to 1 1/3 in. wide; consisting of 5 oval petals with clawed bases and 11-15 green/tan veins, 5 sepals, 5 large stamens with whitish-tan anthers, and 15 additional stamens with orange tips (these actually 5 sterile stamens divided into 3 lobes each) and a whitish ovary.
Fruits: Fruit a 4-celled capsule.
Comments:
Height: 4-16 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of bogs, sphagnous seeps and brook banks; generally in more acidic habitats than P. grandifolia.
stems: Stems essentially lacking; leaves and flowering scape arise from a rhizome.
leaves: Leaves primarily basal, long-petiolate, kidney-shaped with a notched base, 1-2 in. long and to 4 in. wide, with conspicuously curved veins.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary on a slender, smooth scape with 1 small, clasping leaf halfway up; white; to 1 1/3 in. wide; consisting of 5 oval petals with clawed bases and 11-15 green/tan veins, 5 sepals, 5 large stamens with whitish-tan anthers, and 15 additional stamens with orange tips (these actually 5 sterile stamens divided into 3 lobes each) and a whitish ovary.
fruits: Fruit a 4-celled capsule.
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