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Geum geniculatum

Michx.

Bent Avens

G2Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.141196
Element CodePDROS0S050
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRosales
FamilyRosaceae
GenusGeum
Other Common Names
bent avens (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2021-09-01
Change Date2015-12-07
Edition Date2021-09-01
Edition AuthorsRoth, E. (1987),rev. Maybury/Amoroso 6/96, rev. S. Mason and R. McCoy (2007), rev. A. Treher (2015, 2021)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Geum geniculatum is a perennial herb that is endemic to the Southern Appalachian Mountains. It occurs on high elevation peaks in northwestern North Carolina, northeastern Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia. There are 5 metapopulations centered around high elevation peaks of Roan (NC and TN), Grandfather (NC), Rich (NC), Snake (NC), and White Top (VA) Mountains. This species which is largely protected on federal and state lands. However, threats, such as deer browse, canopy loss, and encroachment of woody vegetation are not necessarily managed by the landowner. Surveys of known and historical occurrences should continue to document emerging threats and changes to habitat condition, as well as plant abundance.
Range Extent Comments
Geum geniculatum is a Southern Appalachian Mountain endemic that occurs on high elevation peaks in northwestern North Carolina (Avery, Caldwell, Mitchell, and Watauga Counties), northeastern Tennessee (Carter County), and southwestern Virginia (Washington County) (iNaturalist 2021, Weakley 2020). The species was discovered in Virginia in 2021 (iNaturalist 2021). Range extent was calculated using NatureServe Network Data and research grade photo based observations (iNaturalist 2021, NatureServe 2021).
Occurrences Comments
This species is known from less than twenty occurrences on five mountains: Roan (NC and TN), Grandfather (NC), Rich (NC), Snake (NC), and White Top (VA) Mountains. It can be locally common in the appropriate habitat of these highland areas, as there are often multiple sites known from each. Given the close proximity of the occurrences with some within 1 km of each other, and the genetic and physical isolation (distances over 20 km) from other occurrence clusters, the distribution of the species may be best summarized as 5 metapopulations; genetic research supports this assessment (Shattelroe et al. 2021).
Threat Impact Comments
Surveys are needed but the primary threats appear to be browsing by deer, insect damage, recreational activities, logging, and vegetative succession. Logging may alter the site hydrology and cause upstream sedimentation (Oakley 1991). Trampling by hikers and vegetation removal by routine trail maintenance have caused impacts to a limited number of sites in North Carolina (NCNHP 2007). Insect damage and deer herbivory are ongoing threats that could vary in intensity from year to year (Shattelroe 2019). The encroachment of woody vegetation, including Rhododendron sp., threatens to outcompete the species (Shattelroe 2019). Any disturbance that reduces the canopy cover, may make the habitat less favorable to Geum geniculatum.
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

When within the range of Geum geniculatum, Weakley (2007) indicates the species can be separated from the other Geum species by style with a kink or twist, calyx lobes greater than 4 mm long, part of style above the kink 3 - 7 mm long (constrasted with 1 - 2 mm long). The most closely related species is G. rivale which occurs further north.

Habitat

This species occurs on mountain top balds and high elevation, moist, cool habitats including woodlands, and banks of mountain streams (Weakley 2007). It tolerates deep shade, occurring under 90-95% canopy cover (Shattelroe 2019). It is often found in densely vegetated communities of Rhododendrons and other shrubs, herbs, ferns, and mosses. The most robust populations occur in seepage boulder fields and in stream beds or on banks in early to late successional northern hardwood, boulder field and cove forests, as defined by Schafale and Weakley (1990), between 4000 to 5200 feet of elevation. Occasionally plants may occur in moist, rocky hardwood forests adjacent to stream banks. Smaller populations may occur along the edges of grassy balds in high elevation seeps to 5800 feet (Oakley 1991).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
VirginiaS1Yes
TennesseeS1Yes
North CarolinaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
5 - Biological resource useUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.3.5 - Motivation unknown/unrecordedUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceLarge - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesLarge - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.2 - Problematic native species/diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.2.1 - Unspecified speciesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
North Carolina (1)
AreaForestAcres
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
References (17)
  1. Cooper, J.E., S.S. Robinson, and J.B. Funderburg (eds.). 1977. Endangered and threatened plants and animals of North Carolina. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. 444 pp.
  2. Donaldson, Jamey T. Personal communication. Independent Botanist, Shady Valley Tennessee.
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2014b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 9. Magnoliophyta: Picramniaceae to Rosaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 713 pp.
  4. Franklin, Misty. Personal communication. Botanist, North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
  5. iNaturalist. 2021. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2021).
  6. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  7. Kral, R. 1983c. A report on some rare, threatened, or endangered forest-related vascular plants of the South. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service Technical Publication R8-TP2, Athens, GA. 1305 pp.
  8. NatureServe. 2021. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  9. Oakley, S.C. 1991. Element Stewardship Abstract for <i>Geum geniculatum</i>. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
  10. Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles, and C.R. Bell. 1968. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Univ. North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC. 1183 pp.
  11. Schafale, M., and A. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina: third approximation. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
  12. Shattelroe, M.D. 2019. Investigations of the Forgotten Geum: Genetic Diversity and Population Biology of Geum geniculatum Michaux, Bent Avens. M.S. thesis. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC. 76 pp.
  13. Shattelroe, M.D., P. Mangum, J.R. Ward, and M.C. Estep. 2021. Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Forgotten Geum, Geum geniculatum Michx. Castanea 85(2):404-416.
  14. Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project. 2002. A partnership between the U.S. Forest Service-Region 8, Natural Heritage Programs in the Southeast, NatureServe, and independent scientists to develop and review data on 1300+ regionally and locally rare species in the Southern Appalachian and Alabama region. Database (Access 97) provided to the U.S. Forest Service by NatureServe, Durham, North Carolina.
  15. Sutter, R.D., V. Frantz, and K.A. McCarthy. 1988. Atlas of rare and endangered plant species in North Carolina. North Carolina Dept. Agriculture, Plant Protection Section, Conservation Program, Raleigh, North Carolina. 174 pp.
  16. Weakley, A.S. 2007. Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, and surrounding areas. Working draft of 11 January 2007. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. [http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm (accessed 2007)]
  17. Weakley, A.S. 2020. Flora of the Southeastern United States. 20 October 2020 Edition. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.