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Home/Species/ Appalachian Rose-gentian

Sabatia capitata

(Raf.) Blake

Appalachian Rose-gentian

G2Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.133642
Element CodePDGEN0F090
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderGentianales
FamilyGentianaceae
GenusSabatia
Other Common Names
Appalachian rose gentian (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 MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2017-06-30
Change Date1986-12-07
Edition Date2006-01-27
Edition AuthorsA. Schotz
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
A regional endemic of the Cumberland Plateau and adjacent foothills of the Ridge and Valley physiographic provinces of central and northeastern Alabama, northwestern Georgia, and adjacent Tennessee and possibly North Carolina. Rare throughout this fairly limited range. The species has sustained significant habitat loss due to fire suppression and conversion to agriculture. Most of the nearly 70 sites are maintained by human disturbances (road maintenance, firing range activities, and transmission line maintenance) that are not intended to maintain the species, therefore alterations like switching from broad spectrum herbicide vs. narrow spectrum, or more frequent mowing could be detrimental to populations. Fifteen sites are historic or extirpated.
Range Extent Comments
Occurs on the Cumberland Plateau and adjacent foothills of the Ridge and Valley of northwestern Georgia, central and northeastern Alabama, and adjacent Tennessee (Patrick et al 1995). Reported from North Carolina.
Occurrences Comments
Nearly 70 extant occurrences: 38 in Georgia, four in Alabama, and 35 in Tennessee.
Threat Impact Comments
Most occurrences on private land are not protected; conversion of natural forests to commercial forests is a large threat. Populations on private forest land can be impacted by site preparation activities. Fire suppression is also a factor. Road maintanence including scraping, ditching, graveling and excessive mowing
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Annual herb with opposite leaves and tight flower clusters, in which each flower is bright pink comprised of 7-12 somewhat unequal petals. Sabatia capitata resembles no other species of Sabatia in its range.

Habitat

Wet meadows and openings in oak-hickory-pine forests, persisting in maintained rights-of-way and along roadsides, in thin soils over sandstone. Historically, fire was the driving force that maintained this species in open hardwood-pine forests and other habitats.

Reproduction

Sabatia campestris disperses no more than .4 meters and typically less than 30 cm from the parent plant and this is likely similiar for S. capitata (Lyons 1997).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - MixedForest EdgeGrassland/herbaceous
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLAND
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
TennesseeS2Yes
AlabamaS2Yes
GeorgiaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureLarge - smallUnknownHigh - low
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsLarge - smallUnknownHigh - low
4 - Transportation & service corridorsPervasive (71-100%)Serious - slightHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsLarge (31-70%)Serious - slightHigh (continuing)
4.2 - Utility & service linesRestricted (11-30%)Serious - slightHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsPervasive (71-100%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionPervasive (71-100%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesSmall (1-10%)Extreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesSmall (1-10%)Extreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationANNUAL, PERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Alabama (1)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainTalladega National Forest4,986
References (7)
  1. Adams, L.D., S. Buchmann, A.D. Howell, and J. Tsang. 2010. A Study of Insect Pollinators Associated with DoD TER-S Flowering Plants, Including Identification of Habitat Types Where They Co-Occur by Military Installation in the Southeastern United States, Project Number 09-391. Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program. 83 pp.
  2. Duncan, W.H., and L.E. Foote. 1975. Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States. Univ. Georgia Press, Athens. 296 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. Lyons, Sheila. 1997. Early Studies in Understanding the Genetics of Prairie Rose Gentian. Final Report submitted to IDNR.
  5. Patrick, T.S., J.R. Allison, and G.A. Krakow. 1995. Protected plants of Georgia: an information manual on plants designated by the State of Georgia as endangered, threatened, rare, or unusual. Georgia Dept. Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Social Circle, Georgia. 218 pp + appendices.
  6. 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.
  7. Wilbur, R.L. 1955. A revision of the North American genus Sabatia (Gentianaceae). Rhodora 57: 1-71, 78-104.