Aconitum reclinatum
Aconitum reclinatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to the eastern United States and is endemic to the Appalachian Mountains.
Description
Aconitum reclinatum is a perennial herb with weak, sprawling stems typically 1–3 ft (30–90 cm) tall. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and round in outline, often up to 15 cm (6 in) wide, and are palmately divided into 3–7 coarsely toothed, wedge-shaped segments.
The flowers are borne in loose, elongate panicles from upper leaf axils and stem tips. They are yellowish-white to cream-colored and bilaterally symmetrical, consisting of five petal-like sepals, the uppermost forming a hood or helmet that encloses two smaller petals. The fruit is a beaked, ellipsoid follicle.
Habitat and ecology
The species occurs in rich, mesic forests of the Appalachian Mountains, particularly in cove forests along brookbanks, in seepages, and in periglacial boulderfield with groundwater influence. It is most commonly associated with mafic substrates such as amphibolite, metagabbro, or greenstone, and only rarely occurs on sandstone or granitic substrates.
Regional ecological data indicate that the species occupies mesic to hydric environments with mineral soils and is associated with acidic substrates.
A. reclinatum is a self-incompatible, protandrous species and is likely pollinated by animals. Populations may be affected by deer browse and habitat disturbance, including logging and wetland alteration.
Distribution
Aconitum reclinatum is a Southern and Central Appalachian endemic, occurring from southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia south to western North Carolina and northeastern Tennessee.
Occurrence data compiled by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) indicate hundreds of documented records across its range, including herbarium specimens and verified observations.
Taxonomy
Aconitum reclinatum was first described by Asa Gray in 1843 in The London Journal of Botany. It is widely accepted as a distinct species by major taxonomic authorities.
It belongs to a group of eastern North American species that includes Aconitum uncinatum, with which it may occasionally co-occur.
Conservation
According to NatureServe, Aconitum reclinatum is ranked G3G4 (vulnerable to apparently secure), reflecting a moderately restricted range and potential threats. It is considered critically imperiled (S1) in Tennessee and Pennsylvania, and vulnerable (S3) in several other states.
Although the species may be locally abundant in parts of its range, threats include habitat alteration, logging, deer browsing, and disturbance to wetland and seepage habitats.
Toxicity
Like other members of the genus Aconitum, A. reclinatum contains toxic alkaloids and is considered poisonous if ingested.
References
reclinatum Category:Endemic flora of the United States Category:Flora of the Appalachian Mountains Category:Plants described in 1843