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Plant Profile

Kankakee Globemallow (Iliamna remota)

The lovely pink flowers of Peter's mountain mallow. Photo Credit: Osbra L. Eye

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Malvaceae
State: IL, IN, VA
Nature Serve ID: 157006
Lifeform: Forb/herb, Subshrub
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/25/1988

Description:

Iliamna corei is an erect, ascending, perennial herb with dense pubescent branches and simple maple-like leaves with 5 to 7 palmate lobes. The attractive pink flowers are solitary or clustered in the axils of the upper leaves. One of the rarest native plants in the United States, Iliamna corei is found only on Peters Mountain, near Narrows, Virginia. In 1990, the single remaining population contained only three individuals, and was obviously suffering from inbreeding depression. Seed production was very low, and any viable seed that was produced was not germinating. Subsequent research indicated that cross-pollination is required for capsule and seed formation to occur, and that fire is required to break seed dormancy. In addition to the total lack of recruitment, the plants suffered significant damage by browsing animals and plant collectors. The recovery program for Iliamna corei aims to establish a larger population that is protected, genetically diverse, and receives an appropriate burn cycle. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the Virginia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the Virginia Department of Agriculture, the Center for Plant Conservation, and the North Carolina Botanical Garden oversee this program jointly.

Where is Kankakee Globemallow (Iliamna remota) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Occurs in the shallow soil of the Clinch sandstone outcrops on the northwest-facing slope of Peters Mountain near the ridge line of a mixed deciduous-evergreen forest.

Distribution:

Peters Mountain, Giles County, Virginia

States & Provinces:

Kankakee Globemallow can be found in Illinois, Indiana, Virginia

Which CPC Partners conserve Kankakee Globemallow (Iliamna remota)?

North Carolina Botanical Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

Missouri Botanical Garden

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 03/13/23

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Tina Stanley

03/14/2023

Missouri Botanical Garden holds accessions of Iliamna remota in orthodox seed banking.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Only one occurrence is known in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. The population has fluctuated but current management has increased numbers. Threats through time include fire suppression, which inhibits germination and degrades the habitat, and overgrazing by deer and feral livestock, and collection by people.

01/01/2010

Fire suppression Browsing by dear and feral goats Invasion of weedy competitors following habitat alteration Lack of opportunity for outcrossing Excessive collection by botanists Susceptibility to chance events (since population is so small)

01/01/2010

One element occurrence (3 plants)

01/01/2010

Seed collection and germination studies: In 1988, a viable seed bank was found to exist in the soil surrounding the remaining plants (Jacobs 1990). Further studies in 1989-1990 determined that fire was needed to break dormancy (Baskin & Baskin 1997). Pollination studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University showed that Iliamna corei is self-incompatible. The low sexual fecundity observed among the three remaining plants is therefore explained by the lack of opportunity for cross-pollination (Jacobs 1990). Disturbance history and prescribed burn studies were conducted in 1991-1993 (by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's Division of Natural Heritage and The Nature Conservancy) Ex-situ burn research - conducted at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University starting in 1994

01/01/2010

Population site currently owned by The Nature Conservancy (the Narrows Nature Preserve, established in 1992) Plants have been protected from animal browsing since 1987 Monitoring of mature plants began in 1986 (recording flower and fruit production), coordinated by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University botany staff and research assistants Surveys for additional sites were conducted between 1986 and 1989. No new populations were located Seed is stored at the North Carolina Botanical Garden (Chapel Hill); plants are maintained in experimental gardens at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg), which have produced viable seed for experimental purposes and reintroduction Prescribed burns were conducted in 1991-1993, which was followed by successful germination and seedling establishment

01/01/2010

Continue prescribed burn research and management to determine long-term fire management strategies Monitor seedling, juvenile and mature Iliamna corei plants as well as community vegetation in burned areas

01/01/2010

Increase seed collection by out-growing plants and making controlled cross-pollinations.