Cardamine flagellifera O.E. Schulz. Large-flowered Blue Ridge Bittercress. Phen: Mar-May; Jun-Jul. Hab: In seepages, on streambanks, and in moist cove or bottomland forests, mainly at moderate to low elevations. Dist: C. flagellifera is endemic to the Southern Appalachians of w. NC, SC, e. TN, GA, VA, and WV.

Taxonomy Comments: Cardamine flagellifera is completely distinct from C. clematitis, as pointed out by Dudley (1974). Rollins's division of Cardamine flagellifera into two varieties (following Small's recognition of two species) needs further evaluation. Var. flagellifera is alleged to have petals 6-9 mm long, stamens shorter than the petals by 1 mm or more, sepals 3-4 mm long, and filaments obviously flattened, vs. (in var. hugeri) petals 4-6 mm long, stamens equaling to slightly exceeding the petals, sepals 2.5-3.5 mm long, and filaments terete to somewhat flattened.

Synonymy: = C, FNA7, K3, K4, S13, Tn, Va, W, Al-Shehbaz (1988a); = Cardamine clematitis Shuttlew. ex A.Gray – F, GW2, RAB, misapplied; > Cardamine flagellifera O.E.Schulz – S; > Cardamine flagellifera O.E.Schulz var. flagellifera – K1, Rollins (1993); > Cardamine flagellifera O.E.Schulz var. hugeri (Small) Rollins – K1, Rollins (1993); > Cardamine hugeri Small – S

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily: 2