Pleea tenuifolia Michaux. Common name: Rush-featherling. Phenology: Sep-Oct; Oct-Nov. Habitat: Locally abundant in wet savannas, pocosin margins, usually in peaty soil, locally abundant in a few counties in se. NC, rare inland (very rarely as far as Cumberland County, NC). Distribution: A Southeastern Coastal Plain endemic: se. NC and ne. SC south to sw. GA, Panhandle FL and s. AL (see comments in Barger et al. 2023), but apparently absent from s. SC and e. GA.
ID notes: In sterile condition, it is recognizable by its leathery equitant leaves, bright red at their bases.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Other Comments: When in flower in wet savannas and powerline rights-of-way in Brunswick County, Pleea visually dominates areas up to hundreds of hectares.
Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA26, GW1, K4, NS, POWO, RAB, S, S13, WH3; = Ennearina pleiana Raf.; = Tofieldia tenuifolia (Michx.) Utech — Zomlefer (1997c). Basionym: Pleea tenuifolia Michx. 1803
Links to other floras: = Pleea tenuifolia - FNA26
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
© Jay Horn source | Original Image ⭷
© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Tufted, erect perennial from a thick rhizome, found in wet savannas and pocosin margins, usually in peaty soil; may be locally abundant.
Stems: Stems scape-like, with 0-4 progressively smaller leaves, unbranched, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves mostly basal, whorled or 2-ranked, with overlapping bases, linear, 4-12 in. long, evergreen.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers 3-8 in a terminal raceme, each on a short stalk surrounded by 3 overlapping bracts; white; about 1 in. wide; consisting of 6 narrowly lance-shaped tepals (the outer series of 3 slightly longer and wider than the inner series of 3), 6 stamens about 1/3 the length of the tepals, and a green, conical, 3-celled ovary with 3 styles at the top.
Fruits: Fruit a 3-celled, oval capsule.
Comments:
Height: 1-2 1/2 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Tufted, erect perennial from a thick rhizome, found in wet savannas and pocosin margins, usually in peaty soil; may be locally abundant.
stems: Stems scape-like, with 0-4 progressively smaller leaves, unbranched, smooth.
leaves: Leaves mostly basal, whorled or 2-ranked, with overlapping bases, linear, 4-12 in. long, evergreen.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers 3-8 in a terminal raceme, each on a short stalk surrounded by 3 overlapping bracts; white; about 1 in. wide; consisting of 6 narrowly lance-shaped tepals (the outer series of 3 slightly longer and wider than the inner series of 3), 6 stamens about 1/3 the length of the tepals, and a green, conical, 3-celled ovary with 3 styles at the top.
fruits: Fruit a 3-celled, oval capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: NC, SC, GA, FL & AL
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