Aconitum reclinatum
Gray
White Monkshood
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.139866
Element CodePDRAN01080
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRanunculales
FamilyRanunculaceae
GenusAconitum
Other Common Names
Trailing White Monkshood (EN) trailing white monkshood (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 Date2022-02-14
Change Date2018-08-02
Edition Date2022-02-14
Edition AuthorsHarmon, P.J. (1994), rev. L. Morse (1997), rev. Treher (2018, 2022)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Aconitum reclinatum is a perennial herb that is endemic to the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania to West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina in the eastern United States. There are likely 150 or more occurrences. Primary threats to the species include the alteration of wetlands, intensive logging or clearcutting, and deer browse.
Range Extent Comments
Aconitum reclinatum occurs in the eastern United States, where it is endemic to the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina (Weakley 2020). It has also been reported from Georgia, but it has never been verified and all known reports of A. reclinatum are A. uncinatum (T. Patrick, pers. comm., 1995)).
Occurrences Comments
There are 54 occurrences in North Carolina, 3 in Pennsylvania (including 1 historical), 1 in Tennessee, 50 in Virginia, and 60 in West Virginia.
Threat Impact Comments
This species may require maintenance of seepage habitat in low-elevation sites. Draining and filling of wetlands are the primary threats for this species. Logging may pose a threat by causing physical disturbances to the soil and habitat. Deer browse is a threat. Excessive grazing and trampling may cause soil compaction, resulting in low vigor, poor germination and poor seedling development. Recreational vehicles (ATV, motorcycles, etc.) and hiking traffic are threats. In Pennsylvania a fungus has been found that destroys the flower stem before the fruit sets, then eventually rots the plant, leaving only roots (K. McKenna, pers. comm., 1995).
Ecology & Habitat
Diagnostic Characteristics
Perianth usually white, upper sepal elongate-conic, about twice as high as long; rachis and pedicels strigulose, the hairs short, stiff, incurved; roots fascicled slender.
Habitat
This specie occurs in rich, mixed forests in the mountains at high elevations and is often found along streams, in coves, seeps or other moist areas. Virginia notes this species in deep mountain ravines and on greenstone (C. Ludwig 1995). North Carolina reports many occurrences from moist cove forests.
Ecology
In Pennsylvania, A. reclinatum is uncommon, with only two extant sites. Areas have moist soil (one is a seep, the other a valley bottom). Sites are forested, although they have been logged. The most recently logged site has improved from approximately five plants in 1978 to over 55 clumps in 1986. The second site has several colonies, totaling approximately 100 plants in 1993. The long-term effect of logging is unknown. (Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, 1995)
A. reclinatum appears secure in Virginia with well over 50 sites in the mountains. It is often found in deep mountain ravines, on greenstone or other rich substrate (Ludwig, C. 1995).
This species also appears secure in North Carolina. Several populations have thousands of plants (a few with tens of thousands). Most are found in rich forested coves, seeps, streambanks, and moist boulderfields. (North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, 1995).
In West Virginia most populations are small (5-10 plants), but a few are larger with approximately 50 plants (one site has over 200). Since its habitat is fairly common in West Virginia, it is probably more abundant than the data show, with several undocumented sites. It is found in the higher elevations, mostly at streamsides or in seeps and almost exclusively on Cateache soils with Mauch Chunk geology (Concannon, J., 1996). One plant was found at a cave exit in the cool air drainage. Other occurrences are on disturbed land where seeps and coves meet roadcuts.
According to Hardin (1964), species may be vulnerable to habitat disturbance.
A. reclinatum appears secure in Virginia with well over 50 sites in the mountains. It is often found in deep mountain ravines, on greenstone or other rich substrate (Ludwig, C. 1995).
This species also appears secure in North Carolina. Several populations have thousands of plants (a few with tens of thousands). Most are found in rich forested coves, seeps, streambanks, and moist boulderfields. (North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, 1995).
In West Virginia most populations are small (5-10 plants), but a few are larger with approximately 50 plants (one site has over 200). Since its habitat is fairly common in West Virginia, it is probably more abundant than the data show, with several undocumented sites. It is found in the higher elevations, mostly at streamsides or in seeps and almost exclusively on Cateache soils with Mauch Chunk geology (Concannon, J., 1996). One plant was found at a cave exit in the cool air drainage. Other occurrences are on disturbed land where seeps and coves meet roadcuts.
According to Hardin (1964), species may be vulnerable to habitat disturbance.
Reproduction
2n=16, A self incompatible, protandrous species. The dispersal vectors of this species is assumed to be animals.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - Mixed
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | S3 | Yes |
| Tennessee | S1 | Yes |
| North Carolina | S3 | Yes |
| West Virginia | S3 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | S1 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 5 - Biological resource use | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 5.3 - Logging & wood harvesting | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 6 - Human intrusions & disturbance | Small (1-10%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 6.1 - Recreational activities | Small (1-10%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Pervasive - restricted | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Pervasive - restricted | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 8.1.2 - Named species | Pervasive - restricted | Unknown | High (continuing) |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, DECIDUOUS
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (10)
North Carolina (4)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Chunky Gal (addition) | Nantahala National Forest | 3,336 |
| Craggy Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 2,657 |
| Harper Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 7,325 |
| Lost Cove | Pisgah National Forest | 5,944 |
Tennessee (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bald Mountain | Cherokee National Forest | 11,743 |
West Virginia (5)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Cranberry Addition | Monongahela National Forest | 11,123 |
| East Fork Of Greenbrier | Monongahela National Forest | 7,167 |
| Little Mountain | Monongahela National Forest | 8,172 |
| Seneca Creek | Monongahela National Forest | 22,287 |
| Turkey Mountain | Monongahela National Forest | 6,421 |
References (12)
- Bowers, Mark C. 1984 Sep 4. Letter, Volunteer Data Form and 3 Occurrences of <i>Aconitum uncinatum</i> and 2 <i>A. reclinatum</i> EOs.
- Fernald, M.L. 1950 Gray's Manual of Botany, 8th ed. American Book Company, New York. 1632 pp.
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1997. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 3. Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiii + 590 pp.
- Gleason, H.A. 1952. The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. 3 volumes. Hafner Press, New York. 1732 pp.
- 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.
- Hardin, J.W. 1964. Variation in <i>Aconitum</i> of eastern United States. Brittonia 16:80-94.
- Henry, L.K. and W.E. Buker. 1958. The Ranunculaceae in western Pennsylvania. Castanea 23(2):33-45.
- 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.
- Keener, C.S. 1976. Studies of the Ranunculaceae of the southeastern United States. II. <i>Thalictrum</i>. Rhodora 78:457- 472.
- McCance, R.M., Jr., and J.F. Burns, eds. 1984. Ohio endangered and threatened vascular plants: Abstracts of state-listed taxa. Division Natural Areas and Preserves, Ohio Dept. Natural Resources, Columbus. 635 pp.
- Strausbaugh, P.D., and E.L. Core. 1978. Flora of West Virginia. Seneca Books, Inc., Grantsville, WV. 1079 pp.
- Weakley, A.S. 2020. Flora of the Southeastern United States. 20 October 2020 Edition. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.