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Phlox buckleyi

Wherry

Swordleaf Phlox

G2Imperiled (G2G3) Found in 10 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
High - mediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.143335
Element CodePDPLM0D0C0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderSolanales
FamilyPolemoniaceae
GenusPhlox
Other Common Names
swordleaf phlox (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 Date2021-07-27
Change Date2021-07-27
Edition Date2022-05-05
Edition AuthorsHarmon, P J.; rev. Ludwig/Maybury (1996); rev. S.L. Neid (1998), rev. C. Nordman (2009), rev. Treher (2020, 2022)
Threat ImpactHigh - medium
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Phlox buckleyi is a perennial herb that is endemic to the Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia and adjacent southeastern West Virginia in the United States. Approximately 38 occurrences are believed extant (mostly in Virginia), with about 22 that are considered historical or extirpated. Many extant occurrences are mostly along roads and reliant on compatible maintenance activities. Populations tend to be small with only a few known to exceed 500 plants. More than half of the extant occurrences are within National Forests, with a few in a National Park and a State Forest as well. Threats include mowing, invasion or replacement by weedy exotics, and canopy encroachment. Careful timing of mowing could maintain roadsides and the species habitat.
Range Extent Comments
Phlox buckleyi occurs only in the Appalachians, in western Virginia and adjacent southeastern West Virginia. It is believed to be extant in nine Virginia counties and two West Virginia counties and considered historical in five Virginia counties and extirpated from one West Virginia county. If historical occurrences are excluded, range extent is 9,242 sq km. If all occurrences, except extirpated sites, are included, range extent is 14,747 sq km.
Occurrences Comments
Approximately 38 occurrences are believed extant, 27 in Virginia and 11 in West Virginia. An additional 24 are considered historical in Virginia and 2 are extirpated in West Virginia. Historical occurrences are largely believed to be extirpated, but additional field work is needed to confirm.
Threat Impact Comments
Threats to current populations, many of which are roadside, include mowing during the plants growing season especially flowering and fruiting, competition from non-native species, and canopy encroachment or succession (Dix 1990). Mowing can be beneficial when it doesn't limit reproductive success of plants, as it reduces succession of woody vegetation and helps to control some weedy species. The use of herbicide over mowing would not be beneficial.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Phlox buckleyi occurs on shale slopes in open woods and shale barrens and often occurs along roads. Shales tend to be of Devonian age.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest EdgeWoodland - HardwoodBarrens
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
VirginiaS2Yes
West VirginiaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
4 - Transportation & service corridorsLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1.1 - Unspecified speciesRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
8.2 - Problematic native species/diseasesLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
8.2.1 - Unspecified speciesLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (10)
Virginia (9)
AreaForestAcres
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Elliott KnobGeorge Washington National Forest9,380
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
JerkemtightGeorge Washington National Forest16,687
Little AlleghanyGeorge Washington National Forest10,215
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
West Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
References (8)
  1. Fernald, M. L. 1950. Gray's manual of botany. 8th edition. Corrected printing (1970). D. Van Nostrand Company, New York. 1632 pp.
  2. Gleason, H.A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp.
  3. 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.
  4. Keener, C.S. 1983. Distribution and biohistory of the endemic flora of the mid-Appalachian shale barrens. Botanical Review 49(1):65-115.
  5. Ludwig, J.C. 1995. An inventory of shale barrens on the George Washington National Forest in Virginia. Nat. Heritage Tech. Rep. 95-2. Virginia Dep. Con. and Recreation, Div. of Nat. Heritage, Richmond, VA. 29 pp. plus appendix.
  6. Strausbaugh, P. D., and E. L. Core. 1978. Flora of West Virginia. Second edition. Seneca Books, Inc. Grantsville, WV.
  7. Wherry, E.T. 1930. A long lost Phlox. J. Washington Academy Sciences 20: 25-28.
  8. Wherry, E.T. 1936. Polemoniaceae of the middle Appalachian region. Castanea 1(2): 1-15.