Rhodiola rosea Linnaeus ssp. roanensis (Britton) H. Jacobsen. Roseroot, Goldenroot, King's Crown. Phen: Jul-Aug; Aug-Sep. Hab: High elevation rocky summits, over 5500 feet elevation Dist: Roan Mountain (Mitchell County, NC) and Grandfather Mountain (Avery County, NC), where nearly (if not completely) extirpated.

ID notes:Dwarfed, high elevation forms of Hylotelephium telephioides, with narrow, nearly toothless leaves, have been confused with Rhodiola rosea ssp. roanensis; they are perhaps readily distinguished only in flower or fruit.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: Additional study is needed to more fully understand the relationships of this and other eastern North American members of the Rhodiola rosea complex, and their most appropriate taxonomic recognitions and ranks.

Synonymy: = Rhodiola roanensis (Britton) Britton – S, S13; = Sedum roanense Britton; = Sedum rosea (L.) Scop. var. roanense (Britton) Berger; < Rhodiola rosea L. – FNA8, K1, K3, K4, NE, NY; < Sedum rosea (L.) Scop. – G, Pa, RAB, W, Clausen (1975); < Sedum rosea (L.) Scop. var. rosea – C, F

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)