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Dwarf-flowered Heartleaf in NCDwarf-flowered Heartleaf in North Carolina

Dwarf-Flowered Heartleaf
Hexastylis naniflora

Status:  Threatened

Family:  Birthwort

Flowering/Fruiting Dates: Mid-March to early June.

Habitat:  Acidic sandy loam soils along bluffs and nearby slopes, hillsides and ravines, in boggy areas adjacent to creekheads and streams. Soil type is the most important habitat requirement (Pacolet, Madison, or Musella types). Needs sunlight in early spring for maximum flowering and seed production.

Distinguishing Characteristics:  Smallest flowers of any North American Hexastylis; most are less that .4 inch long, with narrow sepal tubes (never more than .28 inch wide).  The jug-shaped flowers range from beige to dark brown, sometimes greenish or purplish.  Leathery evergreen leaves are dark green and heart-shaped.

Threats:  Site conversion from woodlands to pasture, residential, industrial development, reservoir construction, herbicides.

Species Distribution from known occurrences. Species may occur in similar habitats in other counties.Green counties indicate observed within 20 years. Yellow counties indicate an obscure data reference to the species in the county. Red counties indicate observed more than 20 years ago.

Species distribution of the Dwarf-flowered Heartleaf plant in NCDetailed B/W Drawing  Key to detail drawing

Species Location Map based on information provided by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.
For additional information regarding this Web page, contact Allen Ratzlaff, in Asheville, NC, at allen_ratzlaff@mail.fws.gov

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