Hexastylis finzelii

Hexastylis finzelii, or Finzel's wild ginger, is species of plant in the Aristolochiaceae native to northern Alabama.[1] It is known from two populations in Marshall County. There are thought to only be around 1,000 individuals in the wild.[2]

Hexastylis finzelii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Piperales
Family: Aristolochiaceae
Genus: Hexastylis
Species:
H. finzelii
Binomial name
Hexastylis finzelii
B.R.Keener

The plant is named after Brian Finzel, a photographer who discovered the species in 2019.[3] It was formally described by botanist Brian Keener in 2020.[4]

Description

Hexastylis finzelii is visually similar to H. speciosa and H. arifolia, with the shape of the flowers being the only defining feature.[5] The flowers are difficult to see as they bloom beneath the leaf litter, which is thought to explain why the species went undiscovered for so long. It is hypothesized that they are pollinated by beetles.[6]

Distribution and habitat

The species is only known to persist on Bishop Mountain in Alabama. It is found growing out of leaf litter in moist, hardwood forests. Soils are rocky and well-draining.[5]

The populations are protected as they exist on federal Tennessee Valley Authority lands.[7]

References
  1. "iNaturalist". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  2. Gebhart, Maria (12 January 2021). "Conservation and botany student elevates his Auburn experience finding extinct plants and seeking Alabama's 'plant wonders'". www.auburn.edu. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  3. "APA: Alabama Plant Atlas - Hexastylis finzelii". floraofalabama.org. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  4. "UWA's Keener describes, names new plant species after discoverer | University of West Alabama". www.uwa.edu. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  5. Keener, Brian R. (7 December 2020). "A new Hexastylis (Aristolochiaceae) from Northeast Alabama (U.S.A.) with notes on the species "groups" within the genus". Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. 14 (2): 161–166. doi:10.17348/jbrit.v14.i2.999. S2CID 229412693.
  6. "New Species of Ginger Documented on TVA Land with Help from Cell Phone Technology". QCD News. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  7. Parker, Gregg (16 December 2020). "Finzel at JPII discovers new plant species". The Madison Record. Retrieved 12 December 2021.


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