Hypericum cumulicola
Encyclopedia
Hypericum cumulicola is a rare species of flowering plant in the St. John's wort genus
known by the common name highlands scrub St. John's wort, or highlands scrub hypericum. It is endemic to Florida
, where it is threatened by habitat loss and degradation. It is a federally listed endangered species
of the United States.
This is a perennial herb with wiry, sometimes woody, stems growing from a taproot
and reaching about 60 centimeters in maximum length. The leaves have slightly succulent blades which are linear in shape and measure just a few millimeters long. Flowers occur on the upper branches in a scattered fashion. Each has five yellow petals 3 to 4 millimeters long and many stamen
s at the center. The flowers open in the morning and are closed by midday. They are visited most often by bee
s of genus Dialictus.
The plant only occurs in Highlands
and Polk Counties
in Florida. It is one of the many endemics that are native to the Lake Wales Ridge
. There are 66 occurrences known, but only 31 are on protected land. Even land that is protected may be improperly managed, however.
This plant occurs in the Florida scrub
, an endangered habitat type. The substrate is white sand. The plant may grow alongside other rare scrub vegetation, such as the wedge-leaved button snakeroot
(Eryngium cuneifolium). The plant is a gap specialist, growing in gaps in the tree and shrub layer where sunlight can reach it. These gaps in the woody vegetation of the scrub are maintained by periodic wildfire
s; one of the main threats to its existence is fire suppression. In the absence of a normal fire regime
, the taller and woody vegetation grows up and shades out the plants of the understory. The plant is fire-dependent. It resprouts after fire, becoming more abundant in seasons after fire moves through an area.
Habitat is also lost outright when it is claimed for development. The land is used for residential and agricultural
uses, including ranch
es and citrus groves
. Land management practices that could benefit the plant include less suppression of fire, avoiding fire during drought
times, formation of gaps in the scrub through other means, and avoiding disturbance of the soil crust, which may have a protective effect on the seedling
s.
Hypericum
Hypericum is a genus of about 400 species of flowering plants in the family Hypericaceae ....
known by the common name highlands scrub St. John's wort, or highlands scrub hypericum. 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...
, where it is threatened by habitat loss and degradation. It is a federally listed 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...
of the United States.
This is a perennial herb with wiry, sometimes woody, stems growing from a taproot
Taproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
and reaching about 60 centimeters in maximum length. The leaves have slightly succulent blades which are linear in shape and measure just a few millimeters long. Flowers occur on the upper branches in a scattered fashion. Each has five yellow petals 3 to 4 millimeters long and many stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s at the center. The flowers open in the morning and are closed by midday. They are visited most often by bee
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
s of genus Dialictus.
The plant only occurs in Highlands
Highlands County, Florida
Highlands County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the population was 97,346. Its county seat is Sebring, Florida. The county comprises the Sebring, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
and Polk Counties
Polk County, Florida
Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
in Florida. It is one of the many endemics that are native to the Lake Wales Ridge
Lake Wales Ridge
The Lake Wales Ridge is a low ridge running for about 150 miles south to north in Central Florida. The greater part of the ridge is in Highlands County and Polk County, but it extends north into Osceola, Orange and Lake Counties. It is named for the city of Lake Wales, roughly at the mid point of...
. There are 66 occurrences known, but only 31 are on protected land. Even land that is protected may be improperly managed, however.
This plant occurs in the Florida scrub
Florida scrub
Florida scrub is an endangered temperate coniferous forest ecoregion of the state of Florida in the United States. It is found on coastal and inland sand ridges and is characterized by a xeromorphic plant community dominated by shrubs and dwarf oaks. Scrub soils, a type of entisol, are derived...
, an endangered habitat type. The substrate is white sand. The plant may grow alongside other rare scrub vegetation, such as the wedge-leaved button snakeroot
Eryngium cuneifolium
Eryngium cuneifolium is a rare species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names wedgeleaf eryngo, wedge-leaved button-snakeroot, and simply snakeroot. It is endemic to the state of Florida in the United States where it is known only from Highlands County...
(Eryngium cuneifolium). The plant is a gap specialist, growing in gaps in the tree and shrub layer where sunlight can reach it. These gaps in the woody vegetation of the scrub are maintained by periodic 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...
s; one of the main threats to its existence is fire suppression. In the absence of a normal fire regime
Fire regime
A fire regime is the pattern, frequency and intensity of the bushfires and wildfires that prevails in an area. It is an integral part of fire ecology, and renewal for certain types of ecosystems. If fires are too frequent, plants may be killed before they have matured, or before they have set...
, the taller and woody vegetation grows up and shades out the plants of the understory. The plant is fire-dependent. It resprouts after fire, becoming more abundant in seasons after fire moves through an area.
Habitat is also lost outright when it is claimed for development. The land is used for residential and agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
uses, including ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
es and citrus groves
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
. Land management practices that could benefit the plant include less suppression of fire, avoiding fire during drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
times, formation of gaps in the scrub through other means, and avoiding disturbance of the soil crust, which may have a protective effect on the seedling
Seedling
thumb|Monocot and dicot seedlingsA seedling is a young plant sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a seed. Seedling development starts with germination of the seed. A typical young seedling consists of three main parts: the radicle , the hypocotyl , and the cotyledons...
s.