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Plant Profile

Florida Lady's-nightcap (Bonamia grandiflora)

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: Federally Threatened
Family: Convolvulaceae
State: FL
Nature Serve ID: 160676
Lifeform: Forb/herb, Vine
Date Inducted in National Collection: 04/04/1991

Description:

Bonamia grandiflora, the perennial scrub morning-glory, or Florida lady's nightcap as it is sometimes called, is the only species of its genus in the continental United States. If lucky, one will find this sprawling herb blooming from April through August with large, attractive deep blue or bluish-purple flowers, typically blooming in the morning and wilting by early afternoon. These funnel-shaped corollas with white throats are 7 to 10 cm long and 7 to 8 cm across. Solitary flowers are produced on long prostrate stems that can reach up to 3 meters long and extend outward flat over the sand. This vine does not twine or climb like a number of introduced species of morning-glory. Bonamia grandiflora is characterized by ovate gray-green leathery leaves that can be up to 4 cm in length. The fruits are capsules that normally contain four smoothish, pale brown or greenish-brown oblong seeds that are 5 to 8 mm long. It has a long, relatively thin tap root, and has been found to produce several below-ground stems when grown in cultivation.

Where is Florida Lady's-nightcap (Bonamia grandiflora) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Bonamia grandiflora is a scrub endemic of central Florida. It is most often found growing within or near scrub or on the edge of white sand scrub habitat. Scrub habitats are a type of xeric uplands associated with the old dunes of the Pleistocene age. The sands are very deep, acidic, well drained, and contain very few nutrients. Fire is rare or occasional (20-80 years), and scrub is considered temperate or subtropical. Visitors to a scrub habitat will find sand pine, evergreen scrub oaks, rosemary, lichens, and other herbs. B. grandiflora requires an open canopy in full sunlight to grow and flower. As the oaks and pines mature, they begin to shade out the scrub morning-glory and it goes into decline. It will sometimes invade disturbed areas of open sand near clearings and roadways. (FNAI 2001)

Distribution:

Bonamia grandiflora is restricted to xeric, white sand scrub (or its edge) in the center of the Florida peninsular in the following counties: Hardee, Highlands, Lake, Marion, Manatee, Charlotte, Orang

States & Provinces:

Florida Lady's-nightcap can be found in Florida

Which CPC Partners conserve Florida Lady's-nightcap (Bonamia grandiflora)?

Bok Tower Gardens

Conservation Actions

Tina Stanley

05/11/2023

According to a March 2023 extract of the Florida Plant Rescue Database, Bok Tower Gardens holds 24 accessions of Bonamia grandiflora totalling approximately 13382 seeds.

08/31/2020

Historic Bok Sanctuary (formerly Bok Tower Gardens) propagates and maintains an ex situ collection of scrub morning-glory, and manages the Pine Ridge Preserve, home to several endemic plants.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

A Florida endemic that is sometimes locally abundant; however, development, conversion to citrus, and the lack of fire are substantially reducing the species' natural habitat. The Florida Natural Areas Inventory's database currently contains 99 occurrence records for this species.

S.K. Maddox

01/01/2010

Urbanization is the largest threat, with developments for homes and citrus taking over scrub habitat. Long-term exclusion of fire, which allows the oaks and pines to shade out the open sandy areas needed. Roadside exotics and the control of the

S.K. Maddox

01/01/2010

Only about 100 populations remain. About 35 are protected on 15 managed areas. Bonamia grandiflora is most abundant in the Ocala National Forest (Chafin 2000).

S.K. Maddox

01/01/2010

Ex situ research at Bok Tower Gardens (Pers. Comm., Brazis 2001). Field monitoring and management by the Nature Conservancy, Lake Wales Ridge Office (Pers. Comm., Morrison 2001).

S.K. Maddox

01/01/2010

Conservation practices in the Ocala National Forest, including limited off-road vehicle use. Mechanical clearing or occasional burning is prescribed to renew the sunny openings which Florida bonamia inhabits (USFWS 1999). The FWS works with State, local, and private agencies to conserve scrub habitat, stressing purchasing large high-quality tracts (USFWS 1999). Historic Bok Sanctuary (formerly Bok Tower Gardens) propagates and maintains an ex situ collection of scrub morning-glory, and manages the Pine Ridge Preserve, home to several endemic plants. Intense scrub land acquisition on the Lake Wales Ridge (USFWS 1999). Efforts by USFWS, Lake George District, to develop management recommendations that provide for open, sunny habitat and prevention of cogan grass (Imperata spp) invasion. (USFWS 1999).

S.K. Maddox

01/01/2010

Conduct surveys for additional populations. Maintain distribution of known populations and suitable habitat in GIS database. Protect and enhance existing populations. Conduct research on life history characteristics of Bonamia grandiflora. Monitor existing populations of B. grandiflora. Provide public information about B. grandiflora. (USFWS 1999)

S.K. Maddox

01/01/2010

Conserve germ plasm. The seed for this species is not presently in long term storage. Maintain the ex situ collection. Bok Tower Gardens works with the CPC as a participating institution. (USFWS 1999)