''Parnassia grandifolia'', also known as bigleaf grass of Parnassus, is a flowering

herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

of the family

Celastraceae The Celastraceae (staff-vine or bittersweet) are a family of 97 genera and 1,350 species of herbs, vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the order Celastrales. The great majority of the genera are tropical, with only ''Celastrus'' (the staf ...

. It is native to the southeastern United States, where it has a spotty distribution. Its primary habitat is open wet areas over calcareous soil, such as

fen A fen is a type of peat-accumulating wetland fed by mineral-rich ground or surface water. It is one of the main types of wetlands along with marshes, swamps, and bogs. Bogs and fens, both peat-forming ecosystems, are also known as mires. T ...

s and gravelly

seep A seep or flush is a moist or wet place where water, usually groundwater, reaches the earth's surface from an underground aquifer. Description Seeps are usually not of sufficient volume to be flowing beyond their immediate above-ground location. ...

s. However, in the Gulf Coastal Plain it is found in bogs and areas of wet savanna. ''Parnassia grandifolia'' is uncommon throughout its range, often having a low number of individuals at a given site. It is considered an indicator of high quality seepage communities, and does not tolerate habitat degradation. Its specialized wetland habitat has been destroyed in many areas due to development and agriculture. Because of this, this species is considered vulnerable. It is a rosette forming perennial that produces white flowers in late summer and fall.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q17241485 grandifolia