''Hexastylis rhombiformis'', the North Fork heartleaf or French Broad heartleaf, is a wildflower of the family

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 ...

found in

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

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 = ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The population of this species discovered in 1982 included about 50 plants. It has been postulated that, due to similarities between the three plants, ''Hexastylus rhombiformis'' may be a natural hybrid between ''

Hexastylis arifolia ''Hexastylis arifolia'', or the little brown jug, is a perennial wildflower in the family Aristolochiaceae found in the southeastern United States, from Louisiana to Virginia, inland as far as Kentucky. It is considered a threatened species in F ...

'' and another local ''

Hexastylis ''Hexastylis'' or heartleaf is a segregate of the genus '' Asarum'', in the family Aristolochiaceae. The group comprises ten species endemic to southeastern North America. It is a perennial, evergreen, herbaceous plant with leaves and flowers a ...

'' species.

Description

''Hexastylis rhombiformis'' is an evergreen herb with solitary flowers. Flower colors range from dark purple to white. The leaf blades are not variegated. The stigmas are round.

References

Aristolochiaceae {{Piperales-stub