Hexastylis rhombiformis Gaddy. French Broad Heartleaf. Phen: Late Mar-Jun. Hab: In deciduous forests on sandy river bluffs or in ravines with Kalmia latifolia and Rhododendron maximum. Dist: Endemic to the southern Blue Ridge of NC and SC, known only from Henderson, Polk, Buncombe, and Transylvania counties, NC, and Greenville County, SC.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Other Comments: Following Gaddy's (1986) naming of this species, Barringer (1993) considered the species merely a form of Asarum contractum, but electrophoretic and morphologic studies indicate that it is distinct from H. contracta, and more closely related to H. virginica (Murrell et al. 1998; R. Wyatt, pers. comm.).
Synonymy: = FNA3, K1, K3, K4, W, Gaddy (1987a); = Asarum rhombiformis (Gaddy) Sinn – Sinn (2015); = n/a – RAB; < Asarum contractum (Blomq.) Barringer – Barringer (1993)
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