Search / Plant Profile / Buckleya distichophylla

Plant Profile

Piratebush (Buckleya distichophylla)

The compound leaves and green cylindrical fruit of this tree. Photo Credit: Tom Ward

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Santalaceae
State: NC, TN, VA
Nature Serve ID: 137794
Lifeform: Shrub
Date Inducted in National Collection: 01/01/1985

Description:

The American Buckleya, a rare shrub of the Santalaceae family, has a very limited distribution (Sutter et al. 1987). Trees and herbs in this family are usually found in the tropics and are often parasitic or semi-parasitic (Harper 1947). Buckleya distichophylla has dioecious flowers and is semi-parasitic on hemlock roots (Musselman 1982). In addition to the American buckleya, a few more Buckleya species exist in China and Japan.

Where is Piratebush (Buckleya distichophylla) located in the wild?

Habitat:

B. distichophylla inhabits mountain woods at river banks (low elevations). Locations with periodic wildfires appear to have the healthiest populations of this species (VANHP 2000).

Distribution:

Found only at a few locations in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia (Howard 1977, Mowbray 1985, Ramakrishnan 1999).Eastern Tennessee: the type locality at Paint Rock (near North Carolina line);

States & Provinces:

Piratebush can be found in North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

Which CPC Partners conserve Piratebush (Buckleya distichophylla)?

North Carolina Botanical Garden

Conservation Actions

Tina Stanley

03/14/2023

Missouri Botanical Garden holds accessions of Buckleya distichophylla in orthodox seed banking.

08/31/2020

Vegetative propagation: Sargent (1890) reported no success; Fordham (Arnold Arboretum) managed to obtain rooted cuttings by treating them with Amchem (5,000 ppm). Seed propagation: Fordham (Arnold Arboretum) successfully grew seedlings from seeds (over 50% germination after 2 or 3 months of cold stratification at 40F; no germination if started immediately).

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Currently there are only 30 occurrences ranked as viable with thirteen other extant occurrences. However, many populations are small, with only about 20-30 stems.

Irina Kadis

01/01/2010

Urban development Road construction Over-collection Lack of frequent fire causing habitat succession Bankline erosion Falling limbs from the upper canopy

Irina Kadis

01/01/2010

B. distichophylla was reported to also have an association with a number of pines, broad-leaf trees, forbs, grasses, and ferns. It is not known precisely at what stage of development, for how long, and to what degree this species is dependent on its host plant (Musselman and Mann 1979, Mowbray 1985).

Irina Kadis

01/01/2010

An intensive monitoring and inventory project at Poor Mountain Natural Area Preserve includes permanent sampling plots for Buckleya distichophylla. One intended outcome of the project is to delineate management units for future stewardship efforts. (VANHP 2000)

Irina Kadis

01/01/2010

A management plan needs to be designed and implemented. Further research in B. distichophylla's parasitic biology and how it relates to the plant's various life stages. Fire ecology may play an important role in population stability and need to be investigated (Mowbray 1985). Identifying and monitoring populations would be useful in devising a protection plan.

Irina Kadis

01/01/2010