Croomia pauciflora (Nutt.) Torr.

Croomia

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Croomia is a native herbaceous perennial in the Stemona family (Stemonaceae). It is found in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. In Alabama Croomia is found primarily in the central third of the state. It occurs in rich hardwood forest, on steep hardwood slopes, in ravines, and near streams. Croomia forms extensive colonies from elongate rhizomes. The erect stems are 8-12 inches in height, green in color, and glabrous. There are 3-6 distichous (2-ranked) leaves near the apex of the stem. The leaves are petiolate, alternate, cordate to elliptic in outline, with scabrous margins. The leaves are glabrous and have palmate venation. Flowers are produced in axillary cymes of 2-3 flowers. Each flower has 4 greenish yellow tepals marked with purple towards their base. The flower has 4 stamens with short thick purple filaments and orange anthers. The fruit is a 1-4 seeded capsule. Croomia was once 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), but has since been delisted due to more and more populations being discovered.--A. Diamond & B. Keener

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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