''Gratiola amphiantha'' is a rare species of flowering plant known by the common names little amphianthus, pool sprite and snorkelwort. It was previously the only species in the monotypic genus ''Amphianthus'', but it was moved to genus ''
Gratiola
''Gratiola'' is a genus of plants in the family Plantaginaceae. Most species are known generally as hedgehyssops. The genus was previously included in the family Scrophulariaceae.
Species include:
*'' Gratiola amphiantha'' - pool sprite, snorkel ...
'' after
genetic analysis
Genetic analysis is the overall process of studying and researching in fields of science that involve genetics and molecular biology. There are a number of applications that are developed from this research, and these are also considered parts of ...
in 2008.
[Estes, D. and R. L. Small. (2008)]
Phylogenetic relationships of the monotypic genus ''Amphianthus'' (Plantaginaceae Tribe Gratioleae) inferred from chloroplast DNA sequences.
''Systematic Botany'' 33:1 176. It is native to the
Piedmont
it, Piemontese
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 =
, demographics1_info1 =
, demographics1_title2 ...
region of the southeastern United States, with a center of distribution in
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
. It occurs in
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
and
South Carolina
)'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
as well. It is limited to
granite
Granite () is a coarse-grained ( phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies under ...
outcrop
An outcrop or rocky outcrop is a visible exposure of bedrock or ancient superficial deposits on the surface of the Earth.
Features
Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most places the bedrock or superficia ...
s, a high-
biodiversity
Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...
habitat type that is threatened by activities such as
quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to reduce their envir ...
ing,
off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle, sometimes referred to as an overland or adventure vehicle, is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with de ...
s, and trash and debris dumping.
[USFWS]
Endangered or Threatened Status for Three Granite Outcrop Plants.
''Federal Register'' February 5, 1988. It is a federally listed threatened species.
''Gratiola amphiantha'' is a petite
aquatic plant which occurs in the non-
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...
vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals. They are considered to be a distinctive type of wetland usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe ...
s that sometimes form in the granite outcrop habitat.
[Keeley, J. E. and P. H. Zedler]
Characterization and global distribution of vernal pools.
in: Witham, C. W., et al., Eds. ''Ecology, Conservation, and Management of Vernal Pool Ecosystems – Proceedings from a 1996 Conference''. California Native Plant Society. It is a delicate annual herb a few centimeter long with a short, threadlike stem surrounded by a rosette of tiny lance-shaped submerged leaves. Above them are a pair of slightly larger, floating leaves which are oval in shape and up to 8 millimeters (0.3 inches) long. Flowers occur in the axils of both submerged and floating leaves. Those occurring underwater are
cleistogamous
Cleistogamy is a type of automatic self-pollination of certain plants that can propagate by using non-opening, self-pollinating flowers. Especially well known in peanuts, peas, and pansies, this behavior is most widespread in the grass family. How ...
and do not open, and those blooming on the water's surface have open five-lobed white corollas a few millimeters long. It is a fast-growing species,
germinating immediately with sufficient rain and maturing to flower in 17 days.
[ Its life cycle is quick because appropriate growing conditions occur for only a brief time at these pools.][
There are few other plants that grow in the vernal pools of the outcrops, except for local endemic species of '']Isoetes
''Isoetes'', commonly known as the quillworts, is the only extant genus of plants in the family Isoetaceae, which is in the class of lycopods. There are currently 192 recognized species, with a cosmopolitan distribution but with the individual ...
'', such as '' Isoetes piedmontana''.[
Recent estimates have the number of populations around 31, and certain local populations can be quite large, with several thousand plants occupying pools and puddles in outcrop habitat in wet years.][ Livestock ]grazing
In agriculture, grazing is a method of animal husbandry whereby domestic livestock are allowed outdoors to roam around and consume wild vegetations in order to convert the otherwise indigestible (by human gut) cellulose within grass and other ...
near some pools has caused eutrophication
Eutrophication is the process by which an entire body of water, or parts of it, becomes progressively enriched with minerals and nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. It has also been defined as "nutrient-induced increase in phytopla ...
of the water, making it inhospitable for the plant.[
The oldest name for the species is ''Amphianthus pusillus'', coined in 1837. D.Estes & R.L.Small wanted to transfer the species to ''Gratiola'', but could not call it ''Gratiola pusilla'' because ]Willdenow
Carl Ludwig Willdenow (22 August 1765 – 10 July 1812) was a German botanist, pharmacist, and plant taxonomist. He is considered one of the founders of phytogeography, the study of the geographic distribution of plants. Willdenow was al ...
had already used this name for another species.Carl Ludwig von Willdenow. 1797. Species Plantarum. Editio quarta 1(1): 105–106
in Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
Hence the replacement name, ''Gratiola amphiantha''.[
]
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q10955182
amphiantha
Plants described in 1837
Flora of the Southeastern United States