Aureolaria virginica (Linnaeus) Pennell. Common name: Downy Oak-leech, Virginia Oak-leech. Phenology: May-Jul; Aug-Sep. Habitat: Oak forests and woodlands, hemiparasitic on Quercus subgenus Quercus. Distribution: MA west to MI, south to ne. FL, Panhandle FL, and AL and west on the Coastal Plain through MS, and LA to e. TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Taxa previously recognized (see synonymy) need modern review.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Fl7, FNA17, G, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3; = Gerardia virginica (L.) Britton, Sterns, & Poggenb. — F; > Aureolaria dispersa (Small) Pennell — Tx; > Aureolaria microcarpa Pennell — S, Pennell (1935); > Aureolaria virginica (L.) Pennell — S, Pennell (1935); Rhinanthus virginicus Linnaeus. Basionym: Rhinanthus virginicus L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Aureolaria virginica - FNA17
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Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Tall, ascending perennial found in oak forests and woodlands.
Stems: Stems unbranched or a few ascending branches above, downy (not glandular), often leaning on other plants.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, oval to lance-shaped, to 4¾ in. long with pointy tips, furry on both surfaces; lower leaves with a few large lobes but upper leaves entire or nearly so.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers on short stalks in pairs on a terminal raceme, canary yellow, 1½ in. long, bilaterally symmetric and tubular, the corolla opening into 5 rounded lobes.
Fruits: Fruit an oval, rusty-pubescent capsule.
Comments: Partially parasitic on members of the white oak group.
Height: 1-5 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Tall, ascending perennial found in oak forests and woodlands.
stems: Stems unbranched or a few ascending branches above, downy (not glandular), often leaning on other plants.
leaves: Leaves opposite, oval to lance-shaped, to 4¾ in. long with pointy tips, furry on both surfaces; lower leaves with a few large lobes but upper leaves entire or nearly so.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers on short stalks in pairs on a terminal raceme, canary yellow, 1½ in. long, bilaterally symmetric and tubular, the corolla opening into 5 rounded lobes.
fruits: Fruit an oval, rusty-pubescent capsule.
comments: Partially parasitic on members of the white oak group.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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