Brickellia cordifolia Elliott

Flyr's False Boneset; Flyr's Nemesis; Flyr's Brickell Bush

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Flyr's Nemesis is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It can be found in south-central and south-eastern Alabama. Flyr's Nemesis occurs in sandhills, on mesic slopes, along forest edges, on creek banks, in hardwood ravines, and in sandy pine forests. It is a perennial with a short up-right caudex. Each root crown produces 1-3 upright stems. The stems are green in color, pubescent, and branched near the top. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, triangular-ovate to lance ovate in outline, pubescent, the lower surface gland-dotted, 3-nerved from the base, with serrate margins. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in corymbs or panicles. The peduncle is glandular pubescent. Phyllaries are in 4-5 series, the outer ones long acuminate and glandular pubescent. Each head contains 35-45 pink to purplish or white disc flowers. The fruit is an achene with a crown of barbellate bristles. Flyr's Nemesis is listed as an S2 species in Alabama (typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, acres, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G2G3 species (imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors). Flyr's Nemesis is available from some wildflower nurseries. It prefers a well-draining soil in partial shade to full sun. It is a good nectar plant for butterflies. Plants can also be grown from seed or cuttings, and large plants can be divided. The common name refers to botanist Lowell David Flyr who suffered from bipolar depression and took his own life. The often repeated story that he died in a car wreck while searching for this species in Georgia is untrue.—A. Diamond

**

Native S2 (State Rank) G2G3 (Global Rank)

**