Hexalectris spicata (Walter) Barnhart. Crested Coralroot, Brunetta. Phen: Apr-Aug. Hab: Dry forests and woodlands, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks, such as diabase, gabbro, calcareous siltstone, and dolomite (though sometimes in distinctly acid situations), shell middens. Dist: MD, OH, and MO south to s. FL, w. and s. TX, and ne. Mexico. McAvoy (2021) documents the species' modern occurrence in e. MD.
ID notes: The yellow-orange and purple flowers borne on a brown stem present a very peculiar and distinctive color combination.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, Va, Kennedy & Watson (2010); = Bletia spicata (Walter) Sosa & M.W.Chase – Sosa & Chase (2020); = Hexalectris spicata (Walter) Barnhart var. spicata – Ar, ETx1, FNA26, Mo1, NcTx, Catling & Engel (1993), Catling (2004); = n/a – Tat; < Hexalectris spicata (Walter) Barnhart – C, F, G, Il, K1, RAB, S, S13, Tn, Tx, W, WH3, WV, Correll (1950), Luer (1975)
Links to other floras: = Hexalectris spicata var. spicata - FNA26
Wetland Indicator Status:
Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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