Synonym(s): Asarum minus
Image ID: 7172
Image by: Parkins, Grant Morrow
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library
PLANT INDEX
ID_PLANT: HEMI13
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hexastylis minor
Include in WOTAS: 1
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2017-12-13
GENUS INDEX
GENUS CODE: HEXAS GENUS SCIENTIFIC:Hexastylis GENUS AUTHORITY: Raf. GENUS COMMON: Heartleaf GENUS SUMMARY: A genus of about 11 species, herbs, of se. North America, very possibly best expanded to include Asian taxa treated in Heterotropa and Asiasarum. Barringer (1993) and Kelly (1997, 1998) have recently employed a broad definition of Asarum, including Hexastylis. Over the last half-century various students of the group (emphasizing a range of fields of evidence) have arrayed themselves for and against the recognition of Hexastylis as a genus distinct from Asarum. A cladistic analysis (Kelly 1997, 1998) showed distinctive clades which could be interpreted as evidence for the recognition of Hexastylis (including the Asian Heterotropa), though the author preferred to recognize 2 subgenera. I choose here to follow the more traditional (at least in our area) separation of Hexastylis from Asarum, until and unless stronger evidence is presented for their combination. Electrophoretic and morphologic studies currently in progress validate the species / varietal level taxonomy presented, insofar as results are available (Z. Murrell, pers. comm., 2013; R. Wyatt, pers. comm.). A difficult genus, Hexastylis is made more frustrating by the fact that nearly all diagnostic features relate to the shape and size of the fleshy and brittle calyx – characters which are difficult to describe and are largely lost when specimens are pressed. The difficulty of identifying herbarium specimens has sometimes been (apparently) used as a justification for reducing (often drastically, as in Cronquist) the number of taxa recognized. To those familiar with this genus in the field, however, the taxa here recognized form geographically distinctive populations. Size and (to a lesser degree) shape of individual flowers show considerable variation and can be altered by environmental factors; individual flowers or plants can be difficult to identify if taken out of context. Populations, however, are usually readily identifiable. GENUS IDENTIFICATION: Identification notes: The photograph (Figure 1) in Gaddy (1987a) of the flowers of all species other than H. arifolia and H. speciosa is highly recommended as an aid to identification. The calyxtube orifice is measured on the inside – the diameter of the opening. The width of calyx lobes is measured from sinus tip to sinus tip. GENUS REFERENCES: Whittemore & Gaddy in FNA (1997); Gaddy (1987a)=Z; Blomquist (1957)=Y; Barringer (1993)=X; Keener & Davenport (2015)=V; Gaddy (1987b); Gaddy (1986); Gaddy in Wofford (1989); Sugawara (1987); Huber in Kubitzki, Rohwer, & Bittrich (1993). Key adapted from FNA, Gaddy in Wofford (1989), and Gaddy (1987a).
FAMILY INDEX
FAMILY CODE: ARISTO FAMILY SCIENTIFIC:Aristolochiaceae FAMILY AUTHORITY: A. L. de Jussieu 1789 FAMILY COMMON: Birthwort Family FAMILY SUMMARY: A family of about 6-12 genera and 600 species, vines, shrubs, and herbs, of tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions. FAMILY REFERENCE: Barringer & Whittemore in FNA (1997); Ohi-Toma et al. (2006); Neinhuis et al. (2005); Huber in Kubitzki, Rohwer, & Bittrich (1993).
NCBG DESCRIPTIVES
INTRO: Low-growing, stemless, rhizomatous perennial found in upland or moist forests. STEMS: LEAVES: Leaves on long petioles arising directly from a rhizome, heart- to kidney-shaped, 1½-3 in. long, variegated, evergreen-leathery, with a spicy smell when torn. INFLORESCENCE: FLOWERS: Flowers arise from the rhizome on such short stalks that they are often hidden beneath leaf litter. They are maroon-red outside and in; about ½ in. long; weakly bell-shaped and prominently flared at or above the middle of the tube, with strongly spreading, widely triangular lobes (the lobes often mottled with white); firm-fleshy and prominently ridged-reticulate within. FRUITS:Fruit a round, fleshy capsule. COMMENTS: Endemic to the Piedmont and adjacent Coastal Plain and Mountains of nc. VA, NC, and nc. SC. HEIGHT: 3-6 in. DURATION:
Perennial
HABIT:
Herb
LEAF ARRANGEMENT:
Alternate, Basal LEAF COMPLEXITY:
Simple LEAF RETENTION: FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY:
Radial (Actinomorphic)
BLOOM TIME: Feb-May
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
x
x
x
x
x
BLOOM COLOR: Maroon-red
White
Red
Pink
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Lavender
Purple
Violet
Brown
Not Applicable
x
x
FRUITING PERIOD: DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE: Moist forests
NATIVE RANGE: VA, NC & SC HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text:
Bloom Table Text:
NCBG Location:
Cultural Notes:
SOIL MOISTURE:
Dry, Average
LIGHT EXPOSURE:
Part Shade, Shade
MINIMUM HARDINESS ZONE:
MAXIMUM HARDINESS ZONE:
GERMINATION CODE:
WILDLIFE VALUE:
DEER RESISTANCE:
USDA Symbol: HEMI13
USDA Common Name: Little Heartleaf
Native Status: L48 (N)
Distribution: USA (NC, SC, VA)
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Forb/herb
WEAKLEY FLORA
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hexastylis minor
COMMON NAME: Little Heartleaf
SYNONYMY: [= FNA, K, RAB, Va, W, Z; < Asarum virginicum Linnaeus - F; < H. virginica - C, G, S; = Asarum minus Ashe; = Hexastylis minus - Y, a grammatical error]
PHENOLOGY: Feb-May.
HABITAT: Upland or moist forests.
COMMENTS: Endemic to the Piedmont and adjacent Coastal Plain and Mountains of nc. VA, NC, and nc. SC.
RANGE MAP: Hexastylis minor.png
Key to Map SymbolsABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora) Aristolochiaceae A. L. de Jussieu 1789 (Birthwort Family) SUMMARY: A family of about 6-12 genera and 600 species, vines, shrubs, and herbs, of tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions. REFERENCE: Barringer & Whittemore in FNA (1997); Ohi-Toma et al. (2006); Neinhuis et al. (2005); Huber in Kubitzki, Rohwer, & Bittrich (1993).ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora) Hexastylis Raf. (Heartleaf) SUMMARY: A genus of about 11 species, herbs, of se. North America, very possibly best expanded to include Asian taxa treated in Heterotropa and Asiasarum. Barringer (1993) and Kelly (1997, 1998) have recently employed a broad definition of Asarum, including Hexastylis. Over the last half-century various students of the group (emphasizing a range of fields of evidence) have arrayed themselves for and against the recognition of Hexastylis as a genus distinct from Asarum. A cladistic analysis (Kelly 1997, 1998) showed distinctive clades which could be interpreted as evidence for the recognition of Hexastylis (including the Asian Heterotropa), though the author preferred to recognize 2 subgenera. I choose here to follow the more traditional (at least in our area) separation of Hexastylis from Asarum, until and unless stronger evidence is presented for their combination. Electrophoretic and morphologic studies currently in progress validate the species / varietal level taxonomy presented, insofar as results are available (Z. Murrell, pers. comm., 2013; R. Wyatt, pers. comm.). A difficult genus, Hexastylis is made more frustrating by the fact that nearly all diagnostic features relate to the shape and size of the fleshy and brittle calyx – characters which are difficult to describe and are largely lost when specimens are pressed. The difficulty of identifying herbarium specimens has sometimes been (apparently) used as a justification for reducing (often drastically, as in Cronquist) the number of taxa recognized. To those familiar with this genus in the field, however, the taxa here recognized form geographically distinctive populations. Size and (to a lesser degree) shape of individual flowers show considerable variation and can be altered by environmental factors; individual flowers or plants can be difficult to identify if taken out of context. Populations, however, are usually readily identifiable. REFERENCE: Whittemore & Gaddy in FNA (1997); Gaddy (1987a)=Z; Blomquist (1957)=Y; Barringer (1993)=X; Keener & Davenport (2015)=V; Gaddy (1987b); Gaddy (1986); Gaddy in Wofford (1989); Sugawara (1987); Huber in Kubitzki, Rohwer, & Bittrich (1993). Key adapted from FNA, Gaddy in Wofford (1989), and Gaddy (1987a).
HERBARIUM RESOURCES
SERNEC: Find Hexastylis minor in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available) UNC SERNEC: Find Hexastylis minor in
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)