Calamovilfa arcuata

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Calamovilfa arcuata
Sporobolus arcuatus.jpg
Status TNC G2.svg
Imperiled  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Calamovilfa
Species:
C. arcuata
Binomial name
Calamovilfa arcuata
K.E. Rogers
Synonyms

Sporobolus arcuatus

Calamovilfa arcuata, commonly known as Cumberland sandreed, [2] is a species of flowering plant in the grass family. It is native to the southeastern United States, [3] where it is found in river scour zones. Due to its specialized habitat, it has a highly localized range, found only on the Cumberland Plateau and in the Ouachita Mountains. [4]

Contents

Natural history

This species is found only is a specialized riverine habitat that is kept open by extreme flood scouring events. These flood events naturally occur in high-gradient, rocky rivers, which results in the prevention of large tree growth. This species takes advantage of the prairie-like openings these floods create. [5] Due to its specialized habitat, and low density of populations, Calamovilfa arcuata is considered imperiled. [1] On the Cumberland Plateau, it is most often found on sandstone cobble where it co-occurs with two other rare plants that are also restricted to this habitat: Conradina verticillata (Cumberland rosemary) and Solidago arenicola (sand goldenrod). [6]

This species produces flowers in late summer, at the time when the chances of a scouring flood occurring are lessened. [7]

Taxonomy

Calamovilfa arcuata was first described to science in 1970 from a population found on Daddys Creek in Cumberland County, Tennessee. [5] Recent genetic evidence suggests that this species, along with the rest of the genus Calamofilva, are perhaps best instead included in the genus Sporobolus , although this change has yet to receive widespread recognition. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 Calamovilfa arcuata NatureServe
  2. NRCS. "Calamovilfa arcuata". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  3. Kartesz, John T. (2014). "Calamovilfa arcuata". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States". Archived from the original on 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  5. 1 2 Calamovilfa arcuata Missouri Botanical Garden
  6. "Cumberland Plateau Sandstone Riverscour Shrubby Grassland Austin Pay State University Herbarium". Archived from the original on 2017-01-16. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  7. "Calamovilfa arcuata Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory". Archived from the original on 2016-06-18. Retrieved 2017-01-13.