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Cumberland sandwort (Arenaria cumberlandensis) is a perennial herb that grows 4-6 inches tall and has small, white-petaled flowers and relatively long, narrow leaves. Cumberland sandwort is only known from a limited portion of the Cumberland Plateau in north-central Tennessee and adjacent Kentucky. It is restricted to shady, moist rockhouse floors, overhanging ledges, and solution pockets in sandstone rock faces. This species occurs where the correct combination of shade, high moisture, cool temperatures, and high humidity provides appropriate habitat conditions.

The plant is currently known from 48 occurrences in Tennessee and one occurrence in Kentucky, all within the Big South Fork River watershed. These occurrences make up a total of nine populations; eight in Tennessee in Fentress, Scott, Pickett, and Morgan counties; and one population in McCreary County, Kentucky.

The sandwort is endangered directly and indirectly by human activities in and adjacent to its unique habitat. Significant threats to the plants growing on the rockhouse floors include trampling by hikers, campers, picnickers, individuals rappelling down the sandstone cliffs, and "pot hunters" digging within the rockhouses for American Indian artifacts. The plants growing on ledges and in solution pockets on the cliff faces are vulnerable to trampling by those rappelling down the cliffs. Most populations are potentially threatened by timber removal in or adjacent to the sites supporting the species that could upset the specific balance of moisture and temperature.

Because of these threats, Cumberland sandwort was listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as federally endangered in June 1988. The recovery plan that outlines the criteria that must be met to remove the species from the endangered species list and the steps that are necessary to meet these criteria was completed in 1996. Since that time, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation/Division of Natural Heritage and the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission have been monitoring all of the occurrences to determine the status of each, the threats that are impacting these occurrences, and the measures that need to be implemented to protect each occurrence. They have also searched suitable habitat for new occurrences of the sandwort which has resulted in the discovery of new sites.

Through these monitoring efforts, the TN Division of Natural Heritage has worked cooperatively with Pickett State Park and Forest to protect the occurrences located within their boundaries. This has entailed constructing boardwalks to keep hikers from trampling the plant and its habitat and erecting fences and closing trails to keep people out of sensitive areas. To date, these methods have been extremely successful and the plant appears to be rebounding significantly in these areas. As a result, these efforts along with posting of informational signs will continue in the future.

If these efforts continue to prove successful, Cumberland sandwort may one day be removed from the list of endangered species and be around for generations to enjoy!

For more information about the Cumberland Sandwort and other endangered species contact Tim Merritt at 931-528-6481 ext 211 or e-mail him at timothy_merritt@fws.gov.