Leavenworthia alabamica is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is commonly known as Alabama gladecress. It is endemic to Alabama.[1]
| Leavenworthia alabamica | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Leavenworthia |
| Species: | L. alabamica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Leavenworthia alabamica Rollins
| |
Description edit
Leavenworthia species are winter annual herbs. Scientists use species' genes to determine morphology because some populations are self-compatible, and some are self-incompatible. Self- incompatible species tend to have larger flowers to aid in pollination. The blade of petals tends to be pink or white with a yellow/orange claw.[2]
Habitat edit
Leavenworthia alabamica occurs in four counties. Populations in Morgan County were found to be self-compatible, which is the opposite of self-incompatible populations found in the other three counties.[3] It flowers between March and April. They are best suited for limestone outcrops and cedar glades. They can also be found in abandoned fields, pastures, rocky knolls, and roadsides.[4]
Conservation edit
This plant growing only in four counties in Alabama raises conservation concerns. Although abundant within these counties, their habitat limits their distribution. This plant's habitat is also being largely disturbed. Nearly 50% of cedar glades' habitats have been lost. Another cause for conservation concern is that these species are found on roadside ditches. This affects these populations, such as trash dumping, herbicides, and vehicles off-roading[5]
References edit
- ^ "Leavenworthia alabamica - Species Page - APA: Alabama Plant Atlas".
- ^ "Leavenworthia alabamica in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org.
- ^ Busch, Jeremiah W. (2005). "The evolution of self‐compatibility in geographically peripheral populations of Leavenworthia alabamica (Brassicaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 92 (9): 1503–1512. doi:10.3732/ajb.92.9.1503. PMID 21646168.
- ^ Rollins, Reed C. (1963). "The Evolution and Systematics of Leavenworthia (Cruciferae)". Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (192): 3–98. doi:10.5962/p.336407. JSTOR 41764813. S2CID 249081693.
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".