Image ID: 21001
Image by: Cressler, Alan M.
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library
PLANT INDEX
ID_PLANT: HOMO5
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Houstonia montana
Include in WOTAS: 0
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2020-01-01
GENUS INDEX
GENUS CODE: HOUST GENUS SCIENTIFIC:Houstonia GENUS AUTHORITY: L. GENUS COMMON: Bluet GENUS SUMMARY: The generic limits of Houstonia, Hedyotis, Oldenlandia, and Stenaria have been controversial, with much shuffling of generic configuration. It now appears that Houstonia should be recognized as a genus separate from Hedyotis and Oldenlandia, with Stenaria included in Houstonia (Guo et al. 2013; Wikström et al. 2013, and other references). GENUS IDENTIFICATION: Identification notes: In the key below, all leaf measurements and length/width ratios are based on mediancauline leaves. GENUS REFERENCES: Terrell (1959)=Z; Terrell (1991)=Y; Terrell (1996)=X; Rogers (1987)=Q; Ward (2004c)=V; Church & Taylor (2005); Church (2003); Turner (1995b)=U; Terrell (2001)=M; Rogers (2005); Terrell (2007); Guo et al. (2013); Wikström et al. (2013). Key adapted in part from the references.
FAMILY INDEX
FAMILY CODE: RUBIAC FAMILY SCIENTIFIC:Rubiaceae FAMILY AUTHORITY: A.L. de Jussieu 1789 FAMILY COMMON: Madder Family FAMILY SUMMARY: A family of about 630-650 genera and 10,200-13,000 species, trees, shrubs, vines, and rarely herbs, cosmopolitan, but especially diverse in tropical and subtropical areas. Subfamily and tribe classification follows Bremer & Eriksson (2009). FAMILY REFERENCE: Bremer & Eriksson (2009); Rogers (1987, 2005).
This information is derived from the 2018 North Carolina Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Plant Species.
WEAKLEY FLORA
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Houstonia montana
COMMON NAME: Roan Mountain Bluet
SYNONYMY: [= S, W; < Houstonia purpurea - RAB; = Houstonia purpurea Linnaeus var. montana (Small) Terrell - K, X, Y, Z; < Hedyotis purpurea - Q; = Hedyotis purpurea (Linnaeus) Torrey & A. Gray var. montana (Small) Fosberg]
PHENOLOGY: Jun-Jul; Jul-Aug.
HABITAT: In crevices of rock outcrops at the summits of high elevation peaks of the Southern Blue Ridge, also in thin, frost-heaved, gravelly soils of grassy balds near summit outcrops, from 1250-1950 m in elevation.
COMMENTS: This species is endemic to the high Blue Ridge of nw. NC, ne. TN, and sw. VA, most notably occurring on Roan Mountain, Grandfather Mountain, Bluff Mountain, and Three Top Mountain. It was first noted by Asa Gray in 1841, who described it as a marked dwarfish variety. There has been debate over whether it is not indeed merely a weather-induced form, but recent studies show that it is distinct. In addition to the characters given above in the key, H. montana also differs from H. purpurea in having larger calyx lobes, corolla, capsules, and seeds. This species was recently found in sw. VA, at Grayson Highlands State Park, Grayson County (G.P. Fleming & K.D. Patterson, pers. comm., 2013). See Terrell (1959), Yelton (1974), and Terrell (1978) for further discussion.
RANGE MAP: Houstonia montana.png
Key to Map SymbolsABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora) Rubiaceae A.L. de Jussieu 1789 (Madder Family) SUMMARY: A family of about 630-650 genera and 10,200-13,000 species, trees, shrubs, vines, and rarely herbs, cosmopolitan, but especially diverse in tropical and subtropical areas. Subfamily and tribe classification follows Bremer & Eriksson (2009). REFERENCE: Bremer & Eriksson (2009); Rogers (1987, 2005).ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora) Houstonia L. (Bluet) SUMMARY: The generic limits of Houstonia, Hedyotis, Oldenlandia, and Stenaria have been controversial, with much shuffling of generic configuration. It now appears that Houstonia should be recognized as a genus separate from Hedyotis and Oldenlandia, with Stenaria included in Houstonia (Guo et al. 2013; Wikström et al. 2013, and other references). REFERENCE: Terrell (1959)=Z; Terrell (1991)=Y; Terrell (1996)=X; Rogers (1987)=Q; Ward (2004c)=V; Church & Taylor (2005); Church (2003); Turner (1995b)=U; Terrell (2001)=M; Rogers (2005); Terrell (2007); Guo et al. (2013); Wikström et al. (2013). Key adapted in part from the references.
HERBARIUM RESOURCES
SERNEC: Find Houstonia montana in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available) UNC SERNEC: Find Houstonia montana in
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)