Harperella / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum)

Ptilimnium nodosum flowering during past surveys in NC.

 Photo Credit: Michael Kunz
  • Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Apiaceae
  • State: AL, AR, GA, MD, NC, SC, TVA, VA, WV
  • Nature Serve ID: 161024
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/09/1992
Description:

Harperella grows along rocky shoals of clear swift-flowing streams, and requires a very narrow range of hydrologic conditions in order to survive. The water depth can't be too high nor too low and the water quality must be good. This has made the species highly vulnerable to any seemingly minor or major changes in their habitat either in the immediate vicinity of their location, or upstream from there. Because of this, half of the known populations of this species have been destroyed. The ten remaining populations are scattered across Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia where stream quality is still relatively high, and development and pollution is relatively low. (Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission 2002) This delicate wildflower grows up to three feet tall and is a member of the economically important family of plants (Apiaceae) that includes such food products as carrots, dill, and horseradish, as well as several plants with known medicinal value. The tiny white clusters of this rare species resemble those of its common relative, Queen Anne's Lace. However, where most members of its family have fern-like (highly dissected) leaves, the leaves of this species are nothing but short, hollow \"quills\". (Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2002)

Where is Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum) located in the wild?

Habitat:

A wetland-dependent plant, this species occurs in two specific habitat types:1) shoals and margins of clear, swift-flowing streams2) on the coastal plan along the edges of shallow, intermittently flooded ponds and wet meadows(USFWS 1988)

Distribution:

Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia (Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2002; Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission 2002).

States & Provinces:

Harperella can be found in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee Valley Authority, Virginia, West Virginia

Which CPC Partners conserve Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum)?

  • North Carolina Botanical Garden

    Sponsored
    Sponsors Add
    Donor Acknowledgment - In the Works
    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 06/09/17
    • 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

    Michael Kunz
    • 01/12/2023
      • Seed Collection

    In July 2022, NCBG staff conducted a survey of 2.5 river miles looking for Harperella in it's last naturally location in NC.  We were unsuccessful in finding any individuals remaining in this population.  To obtain seed materials for the IMLS Seed Longevity project, we maintained plants growing ex situ and collected seeds from these individuals beginning in August, 2022.  We split this collection for research and long-term storage at NCBG and NLGRP.

    Michael Kunz
    • 12/02/2021
      • Seed Collection

    NCBG staff conducted a brief survey for Ptilimnium nodosum in NC.  The effort was to locate individuals for seed collection to update aging banked seeds and to contribute seeds to the IMLS seed longevity study.  After a couple hours of searching, we found no plants.  However, since we did not have boats or adequate ways to travel further down stream, the survey was incomplete.  Larger surveys and collection efforts will continue in 2022, as well as germinating seeds from this same population for a seed increase.

    Center for Plant Conservation
    • 08/19/2021
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    In 2021, CPC contracted North Carolina Botanical Garden to recollect seed from a population currently held in long term orthodox seed storage as part of an IMLS-funded seed longevity experiment. The National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation will evaluate how germination tested viability and RNA Integrity of seed lots decline over time in storage.

    Nature Serve Biotics
    • 05/02/2017

    Approximately 45 occurrences (24 drainages/watersheds) are believed extant in scattered localities in the southeast, mid-Atlantic, and, somewhat disjunctly, in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. The largest population concentration occurs along the West Virginia/Maryland border, with a second large population concentration in Arkansas. The species is dependent on narrow hydrologic conditions and is vulnerable to alterations to the natural hydrologic regime, siltation and erosion, water quality reductions, disturbance and trampling, and, possibly, competition from invasive plants; land-use conversion is also a threat at some sites. Many of the occurrences are at least partially on federal or state lands, under a conservation easement, or managed for conservation, but, particularly for the riverine populations, protection/management of occupied sites alone may be insufficient to ensure persistence in the face of watershed-level threats. Also, of the five pond populations believed extant, only one is protected. A few of the riverine populations are large, but appear to be declining. Many historically-known sites have been lost; at least 25% of mapped occurrences are considered historical or extirpated.

    • 01/01/2010

    Vulnerable to pollution of the riverine habitats where this species occurs Susceptible to changes in stream hydrology, such as draining of its habitat or areas upstream for conversion to agricultural land, or drowning of it by stream impoundments

    • 01/01/2010

    Approximately 10 populations remained at the time of listing (USFWS 1988); six stream populations in Alabama, Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina, and four pond populations in South Carolina and Georgia. However, populations were found in five counties in Arkansas in 1990 (Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission 2002).

    • 01/01/2010

    Kress et al. studied the genetic variation of this species (1994). North Carolina Botanical Garden has attempted to germinate seeds of this species, but have found them extremely difficult to germinate, possible because, like many other wetland plants, their seeds do not tolerate storage well.

    • 01/01/2010

    None known.

    • 01/01/2010

    Little is known about the habitat requirements of Ptilimnium nodosum, including the effects of fire and fire suppression. (USFWS 1991)

    • 01/01/2010

    Continue to work on propagation protocols.

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Ptilimnium nodosum
    Authority (Rose) Mathias
    Family Apiaceae
    CPC Number 3675
    ITIS 29554
    USDA PTNO
    Duration Annual
    Common Names Harperella | Piedmont mock bishop-weed
    Associated Scientific Names Ptilimnium nodosum | Ptilimnium fluviatile | Ptilimnium viviparum | Harperella fluviatilis | Harperella nodosa | Harperella vivipara | Ptilimnium fluviatile var. viviparum
    Distribution Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia (Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2002; Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission 2002).
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Alabama S1
    Arkansas S2
    Georgia S1
    Maryland S1
    North Carolina S1
    South Carolina S1
    Tennessee Valley Authority S
    Virginia S1
    West Virginia S1
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    Harperella occurs in rocky or gravelly areas along swift-flowing streams or on the edges of ephemeral ponds along coastal plains (shown here in rocky habitat). Photo Credit: Johnny Randall

    The flowers of harperella are small and white and occur in umbels, looking a bit like miniature versions of the flowers of Queen Anne's lace. Photo Credit: Johnny Randall

    Ptilimnium nodosum flowering during past surveys in NC.

    Photo Credit: Michael Kunz

    Habitat for Ptilimnium nodosum in NC.  Plants were found near this location in surveys in 2011.

    Photo Credit: Michael Kunz
    Videos
    Planting in a Riparian System
    Pollinators
    Common Name Name in Text Association Type Source InteractionID
    Other
    insects Suspected Pollinator Floral Link
    Reintroduction
    Lead Institution State Reintroduction Type Year of First Outplanting
    North Carolina Botanical Garden North Carolina Reintroduction 2006
    North Carolina Botanical Garden North Carolina Reintroduction 2019

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