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Carolina grass of parnassus

Habit Herbs with horizontal creeping rhizomes.
Stems

20–60 cm.

Leaves

basal 1–2 per node on rhizomes;

petiole 8–22 cm;

blade (of larger leaves) ovate to suborbiculate, 20–75 × 15–70 mm, longer than to ca. as long as wide, base rounded to subcordate, apex obtuse;

cauline on proximal 1/2 of stem or absent.

Flowers

sepals reflexed in fruit, oblong to oblong-elliptic, 3.5–5 mm, margins hyaline, 0.2 mm wide, entire, apex obtuse;

petals 7–12-veined, broadly ovate, 14–20 × 9–12 mm, length 3–4 times sepals, base rounded, margins entire or undulate;

stamens 7–11 mm;

anthers 1.8–3 mm;

staminodes 3-fid almost to base, gland-tipped, 9–14 mm, longer than stamens, apical glands lanceolate, 1–1.7 mm;

ovary white.

Capsules

10–15 mm.

Parnassia caroliniana

Phenology Flowering late summer–fall.
Habitat Wet pine savannas, seepage slopes, streamhead ecotones, all subject to recurring fires.
Elevation 10–300 m. (0–1000 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
FL; NC; SC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Parnassia caroliniana is rare throughout its range; it is listed as endangered in Florida and North Carolina.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 117.
Parent taxa Celastraceae > Parnassia
Sibling taxa
P. asarifolia, P. cirrata, P. fimbriata, P. glauca, P. grandifolia, P. kotzebuei, P. palustris, P. parviflora
Name authority Michaux: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 184. (1803)
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