Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ White Alumroot

Heuchera alba

Rydb.

White Alumroot

G2Imperiled (G2Q) Found in 8 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.130832
Element CodePDSAX0E190
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRosales
FamilySaxifragaceae
GenusHeuchera
Other Common Names
white alumroot (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
Kartesz (1994 and 1999) recognizes Heuchera alba as a distinct species, as does Strausbaugh (Flora of West Virginia). Debate exists over whether this element is the same as H. pubescens var. brachyandra Rosendahl, Butters, & Lakela, or a separate species. Further studies in progress by E.F. Wells, George Washington Univ., Washington, D.C.; she had not recognized this as a species in her thesis, but did not know the plants in the field then. Wells did include H. alba in her treatment for FNA (vol. 8 2009). Kartesz (letter to Larry Morse, 25Nov99) notes that he prefers to maintain it as distinct, as done by Core (who was familiar with the plants), pending outcome of further studies.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2012-10-15
Change Date1984-05-01
Edition Date2012-10-18
Edition AuthorsWalton, D. (1996), rev. L. Morse (2000), rev. A. Treher (2012)
Range Extent250-20,000 square km (about 100-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
A narrow endemic of high elevations on the mountains in Virginia and West Virginia. Low abundance.
Range Extent Comments
Endemic to Virginia and West Virginia. It occurs in 5 West Virginia counties (Grant, Marion (questionable), Pendleton, Pocahontas, & Wetzel (questionable) and 3 Virginia counties (Augusta, Highland, & Rockingham).
Occurrences Comments
There are twenty-three+ extant sites in WV and VA. In West Virginia, sixteen sites are recent (seen since 1990) out of a total of nineteen. In Virginia, seven out of nine sites are recent.
Threat Impact Comments
This species occurs along ridgetops at high elevations. The greatest threats are from trampling and from development for houses. One site has become a site for a proposed mountain bike competition.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Erect perennial herb with chiefly rounded-reniform and broadly toothed basal leaves and a spike or panicle up to 40 cm high with approximately 20 yellow-white flowers.

Diagnostic Characteristics

Yellowish-white flowers 5-9 mm long with an oblique or irregular calyx (Strausbaugh and Core, 1977). Flowers lack red dots (KY Heritage files, 1996).

Habitat

This plant occurs on rocky (Tuscarora sandstone) or shaley wooded ridgetops elevation 850-1130 m; 2205-4260 ft.)(VA & WV State Heritage Files, 1995). Usually in shaded areas and/or north-facing slopes.

Ecology

Virginia -- Heuchera alba has been observed on moist shale roadside banks, acid rock and calcareous outcrops, mossy talus slopes, and on high summits; aspects were N and SW. The elevation range varied from 3250-3920 ft. Soils were described as thin. Forested areas included Acer pensylvanicum, Betula alleghaniensis, Quercus rubra, and dwarf pines. Associated plants included Arenaria stricta, Campanula rotundifolia, Draba ramosissima, Trifolium virginicum, and Woodsia obtusa (VA Heritage Files, 1995).

West Virginia -- Occurrences of this species are on cateache soils, acid rock outcrops, Tuscarora sandstone, road sides, high summits, grass balds, rim of a sinkhole, hardwood forest, and dwarf pine forest. Aspects are east and northeast, and elevations ranged from 2205-4200 ft. Associated plant species included Aquilegia, Asplenium ruta-muraria, A. trichomanes, and Pellaea atropurpurea (WV Heritage Files, 1995).

Reproduction

This species produces flowers and is likely to reproduce sexually.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferWoodland - ConiferBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
West VirginiaS3Yes
VirginiaS1Yes
PennsylvaniaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentUnknownUnknownUnknown
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceUnknownUnknownUnknown
6.1 - Recreational activitiesUnknownUnknownUnknown

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (8)
Virginia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
West Virginia (5)
AreaForestAcres
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
References (6)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2009. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 8. Magnoliophyta: Paeoniaceae to Ericaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 585 pp.
  2. 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.
  3. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  4. Kartesz, J. T. 1999. Comments regarding taxa 1-187 [of list supplied by TNC]. Unpublished, Biota of North America Program, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C., Nov. 25, 1999.
  5. Strausbaugh, P.D., and E.L. Core. 1978. Flora of West Virginia. Seneca Books, Inc., Grantsville, WV. 1079 pp.
  6. Wells, E.F. 1984. A revision of the genus Heuchera (Saxifragaceae) in eastern North America. Systematic Botany Monographs 3: 45-121.