(L.) J.F.B. Pastore & J.R. Abbott
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129073
Element CodePDPGL020P0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPolygalales
FamilyPolygalaceae
GenusSenega
SynonymsPolygala incarnataL.
Other Common NamesPolygale incarnat (FR) procession flower (EN) Procession-Flower (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, 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.
Taxonomic CommentsPolygala incarnata was transferred to Senega incarnata by Pastore et al. (2023). The genus Polygala is now treated as limited to the Old World (POWO 2024, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-21
Change Date1990-06-22
Edition Date2024-08-21
Edition AuthorsOrmes, M. (1986), rev. C. Nordman (2024).
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsPink Milkwort (Polygala incarnata) occurs in eastern North America and Central America. It occurs in southwestern Ontario (Canada), in the eastern United States from New Jersey to Wisconsin south to Florida and Texas, in Mexico in Chiapas, Veracruz, Tabasco, and Hildalgo, and in Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. There are estimated to be more than 800 occurrences, including on at least ten National Forests, and on various National Wildlife Refuges, State Parks, State Forests, and State Wildlife Management Areas. Threats include the fragmentation and loss of habitat due to residential development and urbanization, and competition from other plants, especially with lack of fire or suppression of frequent fire.
Range Extent CommentsPink Milkwort (Polygala incarnata) occurs in eastern North America and Central America. It occurs in Canada only in southwestern Ontario, in the eastern United States from New Jersey (and historically Long Island, New York where it is consider to be extirpated) west to Wisconsin, Iowa, and eastern Kansas, south to Florida and Texas, in Mexico in Chiapas, Veracruz, Tabasco, and Hildalgo, and in Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Range extent was estimated to be 4.65 million square kilometers, using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (FNA 2021, GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, POWO 2024, SEINet 2024, Villaseñor 2016, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be more than 800 occurrences of Pink Milkwort rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsThreats to Pink Milkwort include the fragmentation and loss of habitat due to residential development and urbanization, and competition from other plants, especially with lack of fire or suppression of frequent fire, which is an important periodic natural disturbance in the southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States.