Harperocallis
Encyclopedia
Harperocallis is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Tofieldiaceae
. Like many lilioid monocot
s, it was formerly placed in the Liliaceae
. It contains the single species Harperocallis flava, which is known by the common name Harper's beauty. It is endemic to Florida
in the United States, where it is known mainly from the Apalachicola National Forest
in the Panhandle
. It is seriously endangered and has been on the United States' endangered species
list since 1979.
This wildflower was first described in 1968 and by 1979 there were only three known populations totalling fewer than 100 individuals. Two of these populations were actually close enough together to be considered one population. These were all located in the Apalachicola National Forest and the United States Forest Service
managed the area specifically for the conservation of this rare plant. More occurrences have been discovered since this time. The plant, previously known from Franklin
and Liberty Counties
, was found in Bay County
in 2003. The population of seventy plants there is located on private property and it is not protected. The original Franklin County occurrence contains about 31 plants. In Liberty County there are about 16 occurrences with an uncertain estimate of over 8000 plants in total.
This is a rhizomatous
perennial herb with tufts of stiff, grasslike leaves up to 21 centimeters long. The inflorescence
is a single flower on a long, erect stalk, blooming in April and May. It has yellow tepal
s up to 1.5 centimeters long which turn green as the plant produces fruit. While the plant can fertilize itself, it may also be pollinated
by insects, particularly halictid bees
.
This plant's natural habitat is a bog
or wet prairie
with seep
s. The soil is acidic, sandy, and rich in peat
. The dominant tree in the area is generally the long-leaf pine (Pinus palustris), and Harperocallis is considered a member of the long-leaf pine ecosystem
. At one time there were more buckwheat tree
(Cliftonia monophylla) and pond pine (Pinus serotina). The habitat is maintained by wildfire
which prevents ecological succession
and clears brush, old trees, and tall vegetation to provide the flower and other smaller plants with full sunlight. The fire or other forms of disturbance also prevent mats of grass from becoming too dense, allowing the flower to take hold.
Fire suppression is practiced today, altering the habitat from its natural state of disturbance. This is the main cause of the plant's increasing rarity. Today the plant does best in areas that are kept open by human-caused disturbance, such as roadsides and land that is mowed
, but only to a point; severe disturbance from cars and machinery can destroy populations. Other threats include loss of plants to collectors and admirers of wildflowers who pick the blooms, and vandalism
. Genetic analysis
of plants from different populations has been performed and it reveals that the species has a very low genetic diversity
; this is a threat to the species' survival.
Tofieldiaceae
Tofieldiaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants in the monocot order Alismatales. The family is divided into five genera, which together comprise 20 or 21 species. They are small, herbaceous plants, mostly of arctic and subarctic regions, but a few extend further south, and...
. Like many lilioid monocot
Lilioid monocot
Lilioid monocots or lilioids is an informal name used for a grade of five monocot orders in which the majority of species have flowers with relatively large, coloured tepals, broadly similar to those of lilies...
s, it was formerly placed in the Liliaceae
Liliaceae
The Liliaceae, or the lily family, is a family of monocotyledons in the order Liliales. Plants in this family have linear leaves, mostly with parallel veins but with several having net venation , and flower arranged in threes. Several have bulbs, while others have rhizomes...
. It contains the single species Harperocallis flava, which is known by the common name Harper's beauty. It is endemic to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the United States, where it is known mainly from the Apalachicola National Forest
Apalachicola National Forest
The Apalachicola National Forest is the largest U.S. National Forest in the state of Florida. It contains and is the only national forest located in the Florida Panhandle. The Apalachicola National Forest contains two Wilderness Areas, Bradwell Bay and Mudswamp/New River...
in the Panhandle
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
. It is seriously endangered and has been on the United States' endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
list since 1979.
This wildflower was first described in 1968 and by 1979 there were only three known populations totalling fewer than 100 individuals. Two of these populations were actually close enough together to be considered one population. These were all located in the Apalachicola National Forest and the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
managed the area specifically for the conservation of this rare plant. More occurrences have been discovered since this time. The plant, previously known from Franklin
Franklin County, Florida
Franklin County is a coastal county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 11,057. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 11,177...
and Liberty Counties
Liberty County, Florida
Liberty County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its population was estimated in 2005 as 7,733. Its most populous incorporated area and county seat is Bristol....
, was found in Bay County
Bay County, Florida
Bay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 163,505 . Its county seat is Panama City, Florida. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round...
in 2003. The population of seventy plants there is located on private property and it is not protected. The original Franklin County occurrence contains about 31 plants. In Liberty County there are about 16 occurrences with an uncertain estimate of over 8000 plants in total.
This is a rhizomatous
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
perennial herb with tufts of stiff, grasslike leaves up to 21 centimeters long. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a single flower on a long, erect stalk, blooming in April and May. It has yellow tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s up to 1.5 centimeters long which turn green as the plant produces fruit. While the plant can fertilize itself, it may also be pollinated
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
by insects, particularly halictid bees
Halictidae
Halictidae is a cosmopolitan family of the order Hymenoptera consisting of small to midsize bees which are usually dark-colored and often metallic in appearance...
.
This plant's natural habitat is a bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
or wet prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
with seep
Seep
A petroleum seep is a place where natural liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons escape to the earth's atmosphere and surface, normally under low pressure or flow. Seeps generally occur above either terrestrial or offshore petroleum accumulation structures...
s. The soil is acidic, sandy, and rich in peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
. The dominant tree in the area is generally the long-leaf pine (Pinus palustris), and Harperocallis is considered a member of the long-leaf pine ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
. At one time there were more buckwheat tree
Cliftonia monophylla
Cliftonia monophylla is a tree native to the United States.-External links:***...
(Cliftonia monophylla) and pond pine (Pinus serotina). The habitat is maintained by wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
which prevents ecological succession
Ecological succession
Ecological succession, is the phenomenon or process by which a community progressively transforms itself until a stable community is formed. It is a fundamental concept in ecology, and refers to more or less predictable and orderly changes in the composition or structure of an ecological community...
and clears brush, old trees, and tall vegetation to provide the flower and other smaller plants with full sunlight. The fire or other forms of disturbance also prevent mats of grass from becoming too dense, allowing the flower to take hold.
Fire suppression is practiced today, altering the habitat from its natural state of disturbance. This is the main cause of the plant's increasing rarity. Today the plant does best in areas that are kept open by human-caused disturbance, such as roadsides and land that is mowed
Mower
A mower is a machine for cutting grass or other plants that grow on the ground. Usually mowing is distinguished from reaping, which uses similar implements, but is the traditional term for harvesting grain crops, e.g...
, but only to a point; severe disturbance from cars and machinery can destroy populations. Other threats include loss of plants to collectors and admirers of wildflowers who pick the blooms, and vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
. Genetic analysis
Genetic analysis
Genetic analysis can be used generally to describe methods both used in and resulting from the sciences of genetics and molecular biology, or to applications resulting from this research....
of plants from different populations has been performed and it reveals that the species has a very low genetic diversity
Genetic diversity
Genetic diversity, the level of biodiversity, refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It is distinguished from genetic variability, which describes the tendency of genetic characteristics to vary....
; this is a threat to the species' survival.