Geum radiatum
Michx.
Spreading Avens
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
High - lowThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Brandon Wheeler, CC0 1.0
Mark Connolly, CC0 1.0
Brandon Wheeler, CC0 1.0
Ashwin Srinivasan, CC BY 4.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129612
Element CodePDROS0S0C0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRosales
FamilyRosaceae
GenusGeum
Other Common Names
Appalachian Avens (EN) Appalachian 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.
Taxonomic Comments
Geum radiatum is a distinct species, sibling to Geum peckii of New England and Nova Scotia, or may be conspecific with that (in which case the older name Geum radiatum would apply to the collective species).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2015-12-07
Change Date2015-09-30
Edition Date2015-09-30
Edition AuthorsWeakley, Alan S. (NCHP, 1989), rev. L. Morse (2000), rev. Maybury (2006), rev. Treher (2015)
Threat ImpactHigh - low
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 80
Rank Reasons
Occurs on exposed northwest-facing cliffs and heath balds on isolated mountaintops over 1,300 m in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. There are about 15 populations with about 36 subpopulations. Three populations are extirpated (2 populations thought to be extirpated were rediscovered). The species has low seed and primarily spreads by rhizomes. Threats to this species include trampling, rock climbing, development, acid rain, and over collection. At many sites, threats have been minimized.
Range Extent Comments
Occurs on scattered high elevation peaks in western North Carolina (Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Mitchell, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey counties) and eastern Tennessee (Carter and Sever counties).
Occurrences Comments
The USFWS (2013) describes 15 extant populations (36 subpopulations) and 3 extirpated populations that correspond to about 20 occurrences in the NatureServe Network Database.
Threat Impact Comments
Threatened by trampling nearby hiking trails, horticultural collection, rock climbing and rappelling, prolonged drought, and development. Hiking and rock climbing has been limited or sites closed to these activities at some sites, and some are showing signs of recovery
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Exposed, high elevation situations in the southern Appalachians. Primarily in the crevices of northwest-facing cliffs. Also at the bases of talus slopes, or, rarely, in openings in montane heath balds. Found only at elevations over 1310 m.
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousBarrensBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | S2 | Yes |
| Tennessee | S1 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Residential & commercial development | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious - moderate | High - low |
| 1.3 - Tourism & recreation areas | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious - moderate | High - low |
| 5 - Biological resource use | Pervasive (71-100%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plants | Pervasive (71-100%) | Negligible or <1% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 6 - Human intrusions & disturbance | Large - restricted | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 6.1 - Recreational activities | Large - restricted | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 11.2 - Droughts | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (15)
North Carolina (12)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Balsam Cone | Pisgah National Forest | 10,591 |
| Bearwallow | Pisgah National Forest | 4,113 |
| Bearwallow | Pisgah National Forest | 4,113 |
| Craggy Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 2,657 |
| Graveyard Ridge (addition) | Pisgah National Forest | 1,958 |
| Harper Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 7,325 |
| Jarrett Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 7,485 |
| Jarrett Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 7,485 |
| Laurel Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 5,683 |
| Lost Cove | Pisgah National Forest | 5,944 |
| Middle Prong Addition | Pisgah National Forest | 1,852 |
| Sam Knob (addition) | Pisgah National Forest | 2,576 |
Tennessee (3)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers Ridge | Cherokee National Forest | 4,738 |
| Rogers Ridge | Cherokee National Forest | 4,738 |
| Slide Hollow | Cherokee National Forest | 4,057 |
References (9)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Morse, Larry E. Personal Communication. North American Botanist, NatureServe, Arlington, VA. Formerly Chief Botanist, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- Murdock, N. 1993. Recovery plan for spreading avens (Geum radiatum Rafinesque). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, Atlanta, GA.
- 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.
- Small, J.K. 1933. Manual of the southeastern flora. Two volumes. Hafner Publishing Company, New York.
- 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.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2013. Spreading avens (<i>Geum radiatum</i>) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. Available. Online: http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc4343.pdf.