''Hexastylis finzelii'', or Finzel's wild ginger, is species of plant in the

Aristolochiaceae The Aristolochiaceae () are a family, the birthwort family, of flowering plants with seven genera and about 400 known species belonging to the order Piperales. The type genus is ''Aristolochia'' L. Description They are mostly perennial, herb ...

native to northern

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

. It is known from two populations in Marshall County. There are thought to only be around 1,000 individuals in the wild. The plant is named after Brian Finzel, a photographer who discovered the species in 2019. It was formally described by botanist Brian Keener in 2020.

Description

''Hexastylis finzelii'' is visually similar to '' H. speciosa'' and '' H. arifolia'', with the shape of the flowers being the only defining feature. The flowers are difficult to see as they bloom beneath the leaf litter, which is thought to explain why the species went undiscovered for so long. It is hypothesized that they are pollinated by beetles.

Distribution and habitat

The species is only known to persist on Bishop Mountain in Alabama. It is found growing out of leaf litter in moist, hardwood forests. Soils are rocky and well-draining. The populations are protected as they exist on federal

Tennessee Valley Authority The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a federally owned electric utility corporation in the United States. TVA's service area covers all of Tennessee, portions of Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky, and small areas of Georgia, North Carolina ...

lands.

References

Aristolochiaceae Plants described in 2020 {{Piperales-stub