Lesquerella lyrata
Encyclopedia
Lesquerella lyrata is a rare species of flowering plant in the mustard family
known by the common name lyreleaf bladderpod. It is endemic to Alabama
in the United States, where it is known from only three occurrences. It is federally listed as a threatened species.
This is an annual herb growing mostly erect to a height of 10 to 30 centimeters. The hairy leaves are up to 7 centimeters in length, the lowest ones largest and sometimes lyrate (lyre
-shaped). The flowers have bright yellow petals 5 to 7 millimeters in length.
There is one occurrence in each of three Alabama counties, Colbert
, Franklin
, and Lawrence Counties
. The largest population is in Lawrence County, where thousands of plants grow in a Nature Conservancy
preserve. The plant grows in open cedar glades and other open habitat, such as pastures, often with red-colored and limestone
-derived soils. The cedar glade is an endangered habitat type that now exists as remnants within stretches of degraded or improperly managed territory. Historically, the glades were maintained naturally as open areas in otherwise brushy woodlands, with disturbances such as wildfire
or the activity of bison
preventing the succession
of woody vegetation into the open areas. The plants are adapted to habitat that is disturbed, so they can sometimes be found growing in artificially disturbed areas such as roadsides, cultivated fields, and pastures grazed by cattle.
There are only a few populations of the plant remaining, and these are persisting in small stretches of land that are no longer part of the original pristine cedar glade ecosystem, or are in cedar glades that are degrading in quality. Only one population is considered to be thriving due to appropriate management.
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family....
known by the common name lyreleaf bladderpod. It is endemic to Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
in the United States, where it is known from only three occurrences. It is federally listed as a threatened species.
This is an annual herb growing mostly erect to a height of 10 to 30 centimeters. The hairy leaves are up to 7 centimeters in length, the lowest ones largest and sometimes lyrate (lyre
Lyre
The lyre is a stringed musical instrument known for its use in Greek classical antiquity and later. The word comes from the Greek "λύρα" and the earliest reference to the word is the Mycenaean Greek ru-ra-ta-e, meaning "lyrists", written in Linear B syllabic script...
-shaped). The flowers have bright yellow petals 5 to 7 millimeters in length.
There is one occurrence in each of three Alabama counties, Colbert
Colbert County, Alabama
Colbert County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs. George Colbert operated a ferry across the Tennessee River in 1790 near present day Cherokee....
, Franklin
Franklin County, Alabama
Franklin County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin, famous statesman, scientist, and printer. As of 2010, the population was 31,704...
, and Lawrence Counties
Lawrence County, Alabama
Lawrence County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. It was named after James Lawrence, a captain in the United States Navy from New Jersey. As of the 2010 census, the population was...
. The largest population is in Lawrence County, where thousands of plants grow in a Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
preserve. The plant grows in open cedar glades and other open habitat, such as pastures, often with red-colored and limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
-derived soils. The cedar glade is an endangered habitat type that now exists as remnants within stretches of degraded or improperly managed territory. Historically, the glades were maintained naturally as open areas in otherwise brushy woodlands, with disturbances such as 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...
or the activity of bison
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
preventing the 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...
of woody vegetation into the open areas. The plants are adapted to habitat that is disturbed, so they can sometimes be found growing in artificially disturbed areas such as roadsides, cultivated fields, and pastures grazed by cattle.
There are only a few populations of the plant remaining, and these are persisting in small stretches of land that are no longer part of the original pristine cedar glade ecosystem, or are in cedar glades that are degrading in quality. Only one population is considered to be thriving due to appropriate management.