Gratiola amphiantha D. Estes & R.L. Small

Granite Pool Sprite; Snorkelwort; Little Amphianthus

Herb

Annual

Vascular

<p><strong>Granite Pool Sprite</strong> is a native herbaceous annual in the Plantain family (<strong>PLANTAGINACEAE</strong>). It is known from 4 counties in central east Alabama near the Georgia state line. <strong>Granite Pool Sprite</strong> occurs in shallow vernal pools with thin soils in full sun on granite outcrops and flat rocks. The pools must be deep enough to retain water for several weeks. <strong>Granite Pool Sprite</strong> is an annual, germinating when the pools fill with rainwater during the late fall and early winter months. It has a fibrous root system. <strong>Granite Pool Sprite</strong> produces two types of leaves&mdash;a submerged basal rosette and floating leaves. The basal leaves are lanceolate in outline and sessile. The floating leaves occur in pairs on thread-like stems. They are oval to elliptic in outline and glandular punctate. Two types of flowers are produced. Cleistogamous flowers (flowers that self-pollinate and do not open) are produced in the axils of the basal leaves. Chasmogamous flowers are produced singly between the two floating leaves. They have a tubular white corolla with 5 spreading lobes. The fruit is a capsule.</p> <p><strong>Granite Pool Sprite</strong> was listed as a <em>Threatened Species</em> by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on February 5, 1988. It is listed as a S1 species in Alabama (typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or some factor of its biology making it especially 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<strong>)</strong> or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors).--<em>A. Diamond</em></p>

Listed as <a href="https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=Q1ST"><strong>Federally Threatened</strong></a> as of 5 Feb 1988. The name used at the time of listing was <strong><em>Amphianthus pusillus</em></strong>.

Native Threatened-US S1 (State Rank) G2 (Global Rank)

Torrey, J. 1837. New Genera and Species of North American Plants. Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York 4(1): 82–83.