Hexastylis speciosa R.M. Harper

Alabama Heartleaf; Alabama Ginger

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Alabama Ginger is a native evergreen herbaceous perennial in the Birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae). It occurs only in Autauga, Chilton, and Elmore counties of Alabama. Alabama Ginger occurs on shaded sandy slopes along acidic streams, around the margins of bogs, and in seeps. It is a perennial with a short rhizome. Roots are thick and cord-like. The leaves are crowded near the apex of the rhizome. Leaves are petiolate, triangular to cordate in outline, glabrous, with entire margins. The leaves are thick and leathery in texture and has a spicy odor when crushed. The leaves are dark green in color, often mottled with patches of silvery green. Flowers are solitary and have a spicy odor. The flowers are composed of thick, leathery sepals united for most of their length into a cup-shape with 3 spreading lobes. The interior of the flower is reticulate. The flowers are pink, purple, and yellow-shite in color. The fruit is a fleshy berry-like capsule. Alabama Ginger is listed as a S2 species in Alabama (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).--A. Diamond

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

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