Lithospermum decipiens (J.R. Allison) Weakley, Witsell & D. Estes

Deceptive Marbleseed; Alabama Marbleseed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Deceptive Marbleseed is a native herbaceous perennial in the Borage family (Boraginaceae). It is endemic to Bibb County, Alabama. Deceptive Marbleseed is found on Ketona Dolomite outcrops, glades, and barrens. It is a perennial with a taproot. One or more stems arise from each crown. The stems are 1-3 feet in height, greenish-yellow in color, and densely pubescent with stiff, whitish hairs. The stems are unbranched or branched above the middle. Plants have a basal rosette of leaves. These leaves are spatulate in outline with rounded tips and entire margins. The basal leaves are pubescent with long white hairs with pustular bases. The basal rosette withers about the time of flowering. Stem leaves are alternate, sessile, oblanceolate to elliptic in outline with entire margins. The stems leaves are also pubescent with pustular based long white hairs. Flowers are produced in terminal scorpioid cymes. The corolla is tubular and pale yellow in color. The fruit is a pitted mericarp. The mericarp is lustrous white in color, sometimes with brownish tinges. Deceptive Marbleseed is listed as a S2 species in the state (typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G2 species (Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors). Deceptive Marbleseed can be seen in the Nature Conservancy’s Kathy Stiles Freeland Bibb County Glades Preserve.--A. Diamond

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Native Endemic S2 (State Rank) G2 (Global Rank)

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