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Home/Species/ Small Enchanter's-nightshade

Circaea alpina

L.

Small Enchanter's-nightshade

G5Secure Found in 153 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.139347
Element CodePDONA04010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderMyrtales
FamilyOnagraceae
GenusCircaea
Other Common Names
Alpine Enchanter's-nightshade (EN) Circée alpine (FR) small enchanter's nightshade (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 Date2024-08-16
Change Date1984-02-29
Edition Date2024-08-15
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Circaea alpina is a widespread perennial forb occurring in moist to wet environments, on moss-covered rocks and logs, within cool, temperate, and boreal forests, deciduous and mixed woodlands, and along stream edges and forest margins of North America, Europe, and Asia. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent and number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Circaea alpina has a widespread native distribution, occurring in North America, Europe, and Asia (FNA 2021). In North America, this species occurs from Alaska and the Northwest Territories south to California, east to North Carolina, and north through Labrador in the United States and Canada (POWO 2024, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024). Range extent was estimated to be well over 2.5 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024). See individual entries for distribution details about the two subspecies in North America (six worldwide).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be well over 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Circaea alpina is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, invasive species, logging, alteration of hydrology, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

In North America, Circaea alpina occurs in moist to wet environments, on moss-covered rocks and logs, within cool, temperate, and boreal forests, deciduous and mixed woodlands, and along stream edges and forest margins (FNA 2021).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest EdgeWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - Mixed
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
Prince Edward IslandS5Yes
AlbertaS4Yes
ManitobaS4Yes
New BrunswickS5Yes
SaskatchewanS4Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS3Yes
QuebecSNRYes
Yukon TerritoryS3Yes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS5Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
LabradorS4Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IowaS3Yes
WisconsinSNRYes
NevadaS2Yes
South DakotaSNRYes
North DakotaS3Yes
WyomingSNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
New JerseySNRYes
UtahSNRYes
WashingtonSNRYes
West VirginiaS4Yes
IndianaSXYes
MarylandSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
New MexicoS2Yes
MichiganSNRYes
VirginiaS4Yes
VermontS5Yes
ColoradoS3Yes
KentuckySNRYes
PennsylvaniaSNRYes
AlaskaSNRYes
OregonSNRYes
MontanaS4Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
MaineSNRYes
IllinoisSHYes
ArizonaSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
IdahoSNRYes
North CarolinaS3Yes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (153)
Alaska (46)
AreaForestAcres
Behm IslandsTongass National Forest4,777
Bering LakeChugach National Forest965,076
CalderTongass National Forest9,857
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chilkat-West Lynn CanalTongass National Forest199,772
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-13Chugach National Forest13,337
ClevelandTongass National Forest189,447
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
El CapitanTongass National Forest26,693
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Freshwater BayTongass National Forest44,933
Game CreekTongass National Forest54,469
Hoonah SoundTongass National Forest79,764
HyderTongass National Forest121,723
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
KartaTongass National Forest52,117
KekuTongass National Forest10,869
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
KogishTongass National Forest65,216
KosciuskoTongass National Forest64,134
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
ManzanitaTongass National Forest8,401
Middle KruzofTongass National Forest14,724
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
North KruzofTongass National Forest33,146
North RevillaTongass National Forest215,430
Port AlexanderTongass National Forest120,681
QuartzTongass National Forest143,003
RatzTongass National Forest5,325
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Roaded DonutChugach National Forest968
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sitka SoundTongass National Forest13,459
Sitka UrbanTongass National Forest112,003
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Tenakee RidgeTongass National Forest20,527
Thorne RiverTongass National Forest72,983
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
Windham-Port HoughtonTongass National Forest161,952
California (23)
AreaForestAcres
Black ButteMendocino National Forest15,461
Blue Creek Rare ISix Rivers National Forest12,134
Box CampKlamath National Forest858
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
Cub CreekLassen National Forest8,643
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
GrindstoneMendocino National Forest26,031
Grouse LakesTahoe National Forest19,085
Lake EleanorShasta-Trinity National Forest397
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
RussianKlamath National Forest21,771
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
West GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest37,516
Colorado (1)
AreaForestAcres
Long ParkRoutt NF42,100
Idaho (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bighorn - WeitasNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest254,845
NeedlesPayette National Forest131,279
North Lochsa SlopeNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest117,662
Peace RockBoise National Forest191,734
SeceshPayette National Forest248,088
Maine (1)
AreaForestAcres
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest5,988
Minnesota (2)
AreaForestAcres
Brule Lake - Eagle MountainSuperior National Forest12,380
Wood LakeSuperior National Forest596
Montana (7)
AreaForestAcres
Buckhorn Ridge (MT)Kootenai National Forest34,716
Cabinet Face East #671Kootenai National Forest50,326
Grassy MountainHelena National Forest6,740
Roberts #691Kootenai National Forest3,444
Scotchman Peaks (MT)Kootenai National Forest53,909
West Fork Elk #692Kootenai National Forest1,467
Willard Estelle #173Kootenai National Forest3,714
Nevada (5)
AreaForestAcres
ButtermilkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest19,373
Mahogany RidgeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest16,765
McaffieHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,110
Ruby - Smith CkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest7,553
Santa RosaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest54,555
New Hampshire (5)
AreaForestAcres
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
North Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Oregon (19)
AreaForestAcres
Boulder ParkWallowa-Whitman National Forest12,141
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
Chucksney MountainWillamette National Forest15,369
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
FairviewUmpqua National Forest7,417
French Pete (b)Willamette National Forest1,186
Gordon MeadowsWillamette National Forest9,463
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
HuckleberryWallowa-Whitman National Forest11,238
LarchMt. Hood National Forest12,961
Lookout MountainOchoco National Forest14,115
Menagerie (rooster Rock)Willamette National Forest374
Moose LakeWillamette National Forest5,013
Opal CreekWillamette National Forest5,417
Salmon - HuckleberryMt. Hood National Forest17,570
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Sky Lakes BWinema National Forest9,615
Twin LakesMt. Hood National Forest6,055
Wind CreekMt. Hood National Forest5,438
Pennsylvania (2)
AreaForestAcres
Hearts ContentAllegheny National Forest221
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
Tennessee (1)
AreaForestAcres
Rogers RidgeCherokee National Forest4,738
Utah (8)
AreaForestAcres
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
Washington (20)
AreaForestAcres
BackboneGifford Pinchot National Forest1,201
Boulder RiverMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest32,563
Dark DivideGifford Pinchot National Forest52,483
Dixon MountainGifford Pinchot National Forest6,339
Eagle RockMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest34,064
Glacier Peak BMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest19,328
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Glacier Peak KMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest47,269
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Grassy TopIdaho Panhandle National Forests13,485
Green MountainOlympic National Forest4,617
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
LightningOlympic National Forest7,179
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
South QuinaultOlympic National Forest11,081
West Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
Wisconsin (1)
AreaForestAcres
09182 - Pentoga RoadChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest5,008
Wyoming (3)
AreaForestAcres
Deep CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest6,411
Laramie PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest28,608
Singer PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest10,498
References (8)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2021. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 10. Magnoliophyta: Proteaceae to Elaeagnaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 456 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. <i>Aceria fraxinicola</i> (Nalepa, 1890) in GBIF Secretariat (2023). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-06-10.
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. 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.
  5. Native Plant Trust. 2024. Go Botany website. Online. Available: https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org (accessed 2024).
  6. Plants of the World Online (POWO). 2024. Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Online. Available: https://powo.science.kew.org/ (accessed 2024).
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  8. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.