Conradina verticillata
Encyclopedia
Conradina verticillata is a species of flowering plant in the mint family
known by the common names Cumberland rosemary, or Cumberland false rosemary, and upland rabbitbane. It is endemic to the Cumberland Plateau
in the United States, where it occurs along the Cumberland River
and its tributaries
in Kentucky
and Tennessee
. It is known from several occurrences (48 in 1991 and 91 by 1996) which are mostly small and often degraded in quality. Because many occurrences of the plant are threatened by numerous processes, the plant is federally listed as threatened.
The plant grows next to streams and on islands in flood plains. The plant grows in higher areas that keep it out of the harshest flooding. The substrate is sand or rocks. The main threat to the species is degradation of this type of habitat by recreational activity such as hiking
and white-water rafting, construction of dam
s, coal mining
waste and other pollution
, and other processes. It can be found alongside other rare plants such as Monongahela Barbara's buttons (Marshallia grandiflora)
and Virginia meadowsweet (Spiraea virginiana)
.
In general, the plant resembles rosemary
. It is a relatively small shrub
not exceeding half a meter tall in the wild. The stems spread along the ground, rooting at nodes that come in contact with moist substrate. The plant forms clumps or low mats. The stems are lined with clusters of linear, needlelike leaves up to 2.5 centimeters long. The herbage is aromatic, the scent similar to rosemary. The double-lipped flowers are 2 centimeters long or more and generally purple in color with red spotting on the lower lip. White flowers occur occasionally.
This now-rare plant is thought to be a relict
of a much more common species that was able to survive only on floodplanes as the Cumberland Plateau formed. It is also separated from the other members of genus Conradina geographically and ecologically, and it has three sets of chromosomes in its cells (triploid) while all the others have two sets
(diploid).
This shrub is not difficult to cultivate and it is grown as a garden plant
. Some cultivar
s are available, such as the white-flowered 'Snowflake'.
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
known by the common names Cumberland rosemary, or Cumberland false rosemary, and upland rabbitbane. It is endemic to the Cumberland Plateau
Cumberland Plateau
The Cumberland Plateau is the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau. It includes much of eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia, part of Tennessee, and a small portion of northern Alabama and northwest Georgia . The terms "Allegheny Plateau" and the "Cumberland Plateau" both refer to the...
in the United States, where it occurs along the Cumberland River
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a waterway in the Southern United States. It is long. It starts in Harlan County in far southeastern Kentucky between Pine and Cumberland mountains, flows through southern Kentucky, crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before...
and its tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. It is known from several occurrences (48 in 1991 and 91 by 1996) which are mostly small and often degraded in quality. Because many occurrences of the plant are threatened by numerous processes, the plant is federally listed as threatened.
The plant grows next to streams and on islands in flood plains. The plant grows in higher areas that keep it out of the harshest flooding. The substrate is sand or rocks. The main threat to the species is degradation of this type of habitat by recreational activity such as hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and white-water rafting, construction of dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
s, coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
waste and other pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
, and other processes. It can be found alongside other rare plants such as Monongahela Barbara's buttons (Marshallia grandiflora)
Marshallia grandiflora
Marshallia grandiflora is a genus of flowering plants in the family, Asteraceae. It's a Species of Concern with the largest population in the world occurring in West Virginia along the Gauley River....
and Virginia meadowsweet (Spiraea virginiana)
Spiraea
Spiraea , is a genus of about 80-100 species of shrubs in the family Rosaceae, subfamily Spiraeoideae. They are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with the greatest diversity in eastern Asia....
.
In general, the plant resembles rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary, , is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which includes many other herbs, and is one of two species in the genus Rosmarinus...
. It is a relatively small shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
not exceeding half a meter tall in the wild. The stems spread along the ground, rooting at nodes that come in contact with moist substrate. The plant forms clumps or low mats. The stems are lined with clusters of linear, needlelike leaves up to 2.5 centimeters long. The herbage is aromatic, the scent similar to rosemary. The double-lipped flowers are 2 centimeters long or more and generally purple in color with red spotting on the lower lip. White flowers occur occasionally.
This now-rare plant is thought to be a relict
Relict
A relict is a surviving remnant of a natural phenomenon.* In biology a relict is an organism that at an earlier time was abundant in a large area but now occurs at only one or a few small areas....
of a much more common species that was able to survive only on floodplanes as the Cumberland Plateau formed. It is also separated from the other members of genus Conradina geographically and ecologically, and it has three sets of chromosomes in its cells (triploid) while all the others have two sets
Ploidy
Ploidy is the number of sets of chromosomes in a biological cell.Human sex cells have one complete set of chromosomes from the male or female parent. Sex cells, also called gametes, combine to produce somatic cells. Somatic cells, therefore, have twice as many chromosomes. The haploid number is...
(diploid).
This shrub is not difficult to cultivate and it is grown as a garden plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
. Some cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s are available, such as the white-flowered 'Snowflake'.