Download NYNHP Conservation Guide for False Toadflax

False Toadflax
Geocaulon lividum with fruit.
Scientific Name
Geocaulon lividum
(Richards.) Fern.
Family Name
Santalaceae
Sandalwood Family
Did you know?
This plant is part of the mostly tropical sandalwood
family. The genus name Geocaulon is from the
greek ge, earth, and caulos, stalk and is in
reference to the long slightly subterranean but
scarcely modified stems (Fernald 1970).
Geocaulon species are hemi-parasites: that is,
although they do produce their own food using
chlorophyll like other green plants , they also
obtain some nutrients by penetrating the roots of
other plants.
Photo credits: Lorraine Anderson
Summary
Protection Endangered in New York State, not listed federally.
This level of state protection means: listed species are those with: 1) 5 or fewer extant
sites, or 2) fewer than 1,000 individuals, or 3) restricted to fewer than 4 U.S.G.S. 7 ½
minute topographical maps, or 4) species listed as endangered by U.S. Department of
Interior.
Rarity G5, S1
A global rarity rank of G5 means: This species is demonstrably secure globally, though it
may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
A state rarity rank of S1 means: This plant is endangered/critically imperiled in New York
because of extreme rarity (typically 5 or fewer populations or very few remaining
individuals) or is extremely vulnerable to extirpation from New York due to biological
factors.
NYNHP Conservation Guide - False Toadflax (Geocaulon lividum)
Conservation Status in New York
There are 8 known and about 4 historical (not seen within 20 years) populations in New
York State. Two of the historical populations were searched for without success, but more
survey work is needed at these sites before they can be determined extirpated. All of the
populations are limited to the highest mountains in the high peaks region of the
Adirondacks and most are quite small. Some of the populations are threatened by
trampling by hiker traffic. This species is at the edge of its range in New York, where the
cool alpine habita it requires is very limited in distribution.
Short-term Trends
Most of the populations in New York were first seen within the past 20 years. This most
likely is a result of these populations being overlooked due to the fact that this species is
fairly inconspicuous and often grows in relatively small numbers. Most populations have
under 100 individuals but there is no evidence that this is a result of declining populations.
Long-term Trends
No populations are known to have become extirpated in the past 100 or so years. There
are two populations that were searched for recently without success. These populations
have not been seen in the past 20+ years but further survey work is needed before these
populations can be deemed extirpated.
Conservation and Management
Threats
Trampling by hiker traffic is a threat to some of the populations.
Conservation Strategies and Management Practices
The Summit Steward program which works to inform hikers of the fragile nature of alpine
plants is a critical program which is helping to reduce trampling of alpine vegetation. This
program and other efforts designed to reduce trampling of alpine meadows are needed.
Research Needs
Consistent and clear estimates of population size are needed for all extant populations.
The known populations of this species are small enough that counting of all stems is very
possible. Populations which have not been seen recently need to be surveyed.
Habitat
In New York, this species occurs in alpine meadows, under dwarfed trees in alpine and subalpine
habitats, openings in krummholz, and high elevation bogs. It is sometimes found growing in mats of
various ericaceous shrubs and it prefers wet, mossy microsites (New York Natural Heritage
Program 2007). In Maine, it grows in Sphagnum bogs, coniferous woods, and alpine areas (Haines
and Vining 1998). Sphagnum bogs and wet coniferous woods (Gleason and Cronquist 1991). Moss
or damp humus (Fernald 1970).
NYNHP Conservation Guide - False Toadflax (Geocaulon lividum)
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Associated Ecological Communities
Alpine Krummholz
A dwarf woodland dominated by balsam fir that occurs at or near the summits of the high
peaks of the Adirondacks.
Alpine Meadow
A very low-growing community similar in many ways to arctic tundra. Alpine meadows
occur above timberline on the higher mountain summits and exposed ridges of the
Adirondacks. Dwarf shrublands, small grassy meadows, small boggy depressions, and
exposed bedrock with lichens and mosses are all commonly found within this broadly
classified community.
Other Probable Associated Communities
Dwarf shrub bog
Associated Species
Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata)
Black Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum)
Sheep-laurel (Kalmia angustifolia)
Pale Laurel (Kalmia polifolia)
Trichophorum caespitosum
Northern Blueberry (Vaccinium boreale)
Small Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos)
Bog Blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum)
Identification Comments
Purple comandra is a small herbaceous plant. It has creeping roots and erect simple stems
that grow up to about one foot tall. The .4 - 1.6 inch long leaves are alternate on the stems.
The flowers occur in clusters of 2-4 from axils of the leaves. They lack true petals but have
a 5-lobed calyx with the lobes bronze to greenish. Only the central flower of a cluster has
female reproductive parts and is able to produce fruits. The other flowers have only male
reproductive parts. The beautiful orange to scarlet fruits are round, juicy, and 6-10 mm in
diameter (Fernald 1970, Gleason and Cronquist 1991).
Best Life Stage for Identifying This Species
Identification of this species is possible with only vegetative characteristics but flowers or
fruits are extremely useful and essentially needed for identification of dried specimens. In
addition, the orange to scarlet fruits, although somewhat hidden by the leaves, can help
greatly in the location of this species.
The Best Time to See
The best time to survey for this species is when it is in fruit and it is most visible, which is
from mid-July through September.
NYNHP Conservation Guide - False Toadflax (Geocaulon lividum)
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Flowering
Fruiting
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
The time of year you would expect to find False Toadflax in New York.
Similar Species
Geocaulon lividum is a very distinct plant and is not easily confused with any other species
in New York's alpine habitats. Its flowers and to some degree fruits are somewhat
inconspicuous. Individual stems often are without flowers. Therefore, as a simple-stemmed
small herb that often grows singly or only in small groups, with stems widely spaced, it can
be difficult to spot. Finding this species requires keen observation and familiarity with its
vegetative characteristics.
Comandra umbellata, bastard-toadflax, looks similar vegetatively but occurs in lowland dry
forests and barrens, and has many white flowers at the top of the stem.
Conservation Comments
Fernald (1928) transferred Comandra livida to the monotypic genus Geocaulon due to
many morphological differences between the two genera.
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Anthophyta
Class
Dicots (Dicotyledoneae)
Order
Santalales
Family
Santalaceae (Sandalwood Family)
Additional Common Names
Northern bastard toadflax
Northern Comandra
Purple Comandra
Synonyms
Comandra livida (Richardson)
Additional Resources
NYNHP Conservation Guide - False Toadflax (Geocaulon lividum)
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Links
USDA Plants Database
http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?mode=sciname&keywordquery=
GEOCAULON+LIVIDUM
Google Images
http://images.google.com/images?q=GEOCAULON+LIVIDUM
NatureServe Explorer
http://natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=GEOCAULON+LIVIDUM
References
Fernald, M.L. 1928. Contributions from the gray herbarium of Harvard University, No. LXXIX.
Rhodora 30: 21-30.
Fernald, M.L. 1950. Gray's manual of botany. 8th edition. D. Van Nostrand, New York. 1632 pp.
Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States
and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp.
Haines, A. and T.F. Vining. 1998. Flora of Maine, A Manual for Identification of Native and
Naturalized Vascular Plants of Maine. V.F.Thomas Co., Bar Harbor, Maine.
Holmgren, Noel. 1998. The Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations
of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York
Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York.
Keys, Jr.,J.; Carpenter, C.; Hooks, S.; Koenig, F.; McNab, W.H.; Russell, W.;Smith, M.L. 1995.
Ecological units of the eastern United States - first approximation (cd-rom), Atlanta, GA: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. GIS coverage in ARCINFO format, selected imagery,
and map unit tables.
Mitchell, Richard S. and Gordon C. Tucker. 1997. Revised Checklist of New York State Plants.
Contributions to a Flora of New York State. Checklist IV. Bulletin No. 490. New York State
Museum. Albany, NY. 400 pp.
NatureServe. 2005. NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, Virginia. USA
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2010. Biotics database. New York Natural Heritage Program.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY.
Reschke, Carol. 1990. Ecological communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage
Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Latham, NY. 96 pp. plus
xi.
Weldy, T. and D. Werier. 2010. New York flora atlas. [S.M. Landry, K.N. Campbell, and L.D. Mabe
(original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research
http://www.fccdr.usf.edu/. University of South Florida http://www.usf.edu/
Zika, Peter F. and Jerry C. Jenkins. 1992. Contributions to the flora of the Adirondacks, New York.
Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 119(4): 442-445.
New York Natural Heritage Program
This project is made possible with funding from:
625 Broadway, 5th Floor,
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River
Albany, NY 12233-4757
Estuary Program
Phone: (518) 402-8935
- Division of Lands & Forests, Department of Environmental Conservation
[email protected]
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
NYNHP Conservation Guide - False Toadflax (Geocaulon lividum)
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Information for this guide was last updated on Oct 29, 2015
This guide was authored by
NYNHP Conservation Guide - False Toadflax (Geocaulon lividum)
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