''Paysonia lyrata'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family

Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous plants, while some are shrubs. The le ...

known by the common name lyreleaf bladderpod. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

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 ...

in the United States, where it is known from only three occurrences.USFWS
''Lesquerella lyrata'' Five-year Review.
April 2009. It is federally listed as a threatened species. This is an annual herb growing mostly erect to a height of 10 to 30 centimeters. The hairy leaves are up to 7 centimeters in length, the lowest ones largest and sometimes lyrate (

lyre The lyre () is a stringed musical instrument that is classified by Hornbostel–Sachs as a member of the lute-family of instruments. In organology, a lyre is considered a yoke lute, since it is a lute in which the strings are attached to a yoke ...

-shaped). The flowers have bright yellow petals 5 to 7 millimeters in length.''Lesquerella lyrata''.
Flora of North America. There is one occurrence in each of three Alabama counties, Colbert,

Franklin Franklin may refer to: People * Franklin (given name) * Franklin (surname) * Franklin (class), a member of a historical English social class Places Australia * Franklin, Tasmania, a township * Division of Franklin, federal electoral d ...

, and Lawrence Counties. The largest population is in Lawrence County, where thousands of plants grow in a

Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. it works via affiliates or branches in 79 countries and territories, as well as across every state in the US. Founded in 1951, The Natu ...

preserve. The plant grows in open

cedar glade A calcareous glade is a type of ecological community that is found in the central Eastern United States. Calcareous glades occur where bedrock such as limestone occurs near or at the surface, and have very shallow and little soil development. Du ...

s and other open habitat, such as pastures, often with red-colored and

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

-derived soils.''Lesquerella lyrata''.
The Nature Conservancy. The cedar glade is an endangered habitat type that now exists as remnants within stretches of degraded or improperly managed territory. Historically, the glades were maintained naturally as open areas in otherwise brushy woodlands, with disturbances such as

wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire ...

or the activity of

bison Bison are large bovines in the genus ''Bison'' (Greek: "wild ox" (bison)) within the tribe Bovini. Two extant and numerous extinct species are recognised. Of the two surviving species, the American bison, ''B. bison'', found only in North Ame ...

preventing the

succession Succession is the act or process of following in order or sequence. Governance and politics *Order of succession, in politics, the ascension to power by one ruler, official, or monarch after the death, resignation, or removal from office of ...

of woody vegetation into the open areas. The plants are adapted to habitat that is disturbed, so they can sometimes be found growing in artificially disturbed areas such as roadsides, cultivated fields, and pastures grazed by cattle. There are only a few populations of the plant remaining, and these are persisting in small stretches of land that are no longer part of the original pristine cedar glade ecosystem, or are in cedar glades that are degrading in quality. Only one population is considered to be thriving due to appropriate management.

References

External links

*
USDA Plants Profile for ''Paysonia lyrata''
lyrata Flora of Alabama Endemic flora of the United States Critically endangered flora of the United States {{Brassicales-stub