Shortia galacifolia

This record is for the narrow treatment of Shortia galacifolia, excluding S. brevistyla, which had been recognized (e.g., by FNA (2009, vol. 8)) as a variety of S. galacifolia. Shortia brevistyla is distinguished as a distinct species by Gaddy et al. (2019), who say, "Shortia brevistyla has significantly smaller flowers, shorter styles, shorter petals, and smaller leaves than S. galacifolia. Genetic data indicate that the two species differ at five of 210 nucleotide positions in the ITS1 ribosomal region. Genetic divergence models indicate that the two species diverged approximately 20,000 years ago during the glacial maximum of the Pleistocene."

Shortia galacifolia var. galacifolia, which is more naturally abundant than S. galacifolia var. brevistyla, is restricted to the drainage area of the Keowee River in northwestern South Carolina and adjacent regions in Georgia and North Carolina. It has a very limited distribution but can be locally common. It is threatened by horticultural collecting and damming of rivers.

Occurs in Transylvania, Macon, Jackson Counties, North Carolina; Oconee and Pickens Counties, South Carolina; and Rabun County, Georgia. Outlying populations in Swain county and one in Macon County, North Carolina and Amherst County, Virginia are not considered native (they are adventive or populations persisting after cultivation). Range extent calculations exclude non-native populations.

Shortia galacifolia var. galacifolia is known from two large populations (each with several sub-populations in smaller tributaries) in the Horsepasture River Gorge (9 sub-populations) and the Toxaway River Gorge (9 sub-populations) (NatureServe Network Natural Heritage Data 2015; Franklin 2006).

Threatened by land-use conversion, habitat fragmentation, and to a lesser degree by forest management practices (harvest, site prep, Rx fire). Threatened by poaching for wildflower gardens (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002).