Lophiola aurea Ker Gawl.

Goldencrest

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Goldencrest is a native herbaceous perennial in the Bog Asphodel family (Nartheciaceae). It can be found in the southernmost counties of Alabama. Goldencrest occurs in bogs, in low pine savannas, and on wet sandy roadsides. It is a perennial from a rhizome. Stems are erect, 1-2 feet in height, unbranched below the inflorescence, and wooly pubescent with whitish hairs. The grass-like leaves are primarily basal, with the cauline leaves much reduced. The leaves are linear, erect, entire, and glabrous. Flowers are produced in open, terminal, much branched corymbs or panicles. Individual flowers have six tepals that are densely wooly on the exterior surface and crested with bright yellow filaments on the inner surface. The sepals are triangular in shape and reflexed. There are six short stamens and a half-inferior ovary. The fruit is a capsule enclosed by the tepals. Lophiola has variously been placed in the Liliaceae or Haemodoraceae. It is a monotypic genus with an odd distribution. It occurs along the Gulf Coast, in the middle Atlantic Coastal area (Delaware, New Jersey, and North Carolina) and in Nova Scotia, Canada.—A. Diamond.

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Native OBL (NWPL)

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