ROSACEAE - - Rose Family

Geum radiatum Michaux — Spreading Avens, Cliff Avens

Habitat:

High elevation rocky summits, in thin soil at tops of cliffs and on ledges (where not trampled), in pockets of soil on nearly vertical portions of cliffs, in open grassy balds, around Rhododendron catawbiense in grassy balds, or in grassy areas at bases of cliffs (where succession by shrubs is prevented by accumulation of seepage ice and by stone fall). It is illegal to collect G. radiatum without federal and state permits, and there is no justification (scientific or otherwise) for additional collections from known sites. This is one of the few plant species that has been seriously depleted by collection by scientists (several hundred herbarium sheets from Roan Mountain alone!), though recreational over-use of its habitats, and possibly also pollution and break-up of adjoining spruce-fir forests, are the more critical threats to its continued existence.

Habitat information from:
Weakley, Alan S., Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States, Working Draft of 21 May 2015.

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].