L.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.141280
Element CodePMLIL01030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderDioscoreales
FamilyNartheciaceae
GenusAletris
Other Common NamesNorthern White Colicroot (EN) White Colicroot (EN) white colicroot (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.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-07
Change Date1984-02-09
Edition Date2024-08-07
Edition AuthorsKelly McConnell (2001), N. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsAletris farinosa is a perennial herb occurring in fields and roadsides, moist bogs, dry to mesic prairies, and dry woods and thickets of eastern North America, from Ontario, Canada, south to Wisconsin and Michigan, east to Maine, south to Florida, and west to Texas and Oklahoma in the United States. There are 700 estimated occurrences of this taxon range-wide, which are threatened by over-harvest for medicinal use, conversion of habitat for agriculture or forest plantations, logging, succession, development, rights-of-way maintenance, and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and high number of occurrences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsAletris farinosa occurs in eastern North America from Ontario, Canada south to Wisconsin and Michigan, east to Maine, south to Florida, and west to Texas and Oklahoma in the United States (FNA 2002). Range extent was estimated to be 2.4 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are over 700 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAletris farinosa has historically been collected from the wild for the herbal medicinal industry; however, more material in commerce today is cultivated. Some experts in the medicinal plant industry have suggested that trade is medium to large and demand has increased over the past ten years, which is concerning because this is a slow growing plant (Robbins 1999). Conversion of remnant native prairie habitats to agriculture has posed the greatest threat to populations in Canada (Kirk 1988). Likewise, populations have been destroyed in Alabama due to timber harvest and land conversion to pine plantations, which is a significant threat generally to native populations throughout the state (Schotz, pers. comm., 2000). Aletris farinosa is sensitive to hydrological changes that accompany logging operations; however, it may respond favorably to the increased light that results (White, pers. comm., 2000). Additional potential threats include development, rights-of-way maintenance, invasive species, succession, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the taxon's broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.