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Virginia Spiraea
Written by Martin McAllister
Saturday, 23 April 2005
Listed as federally threatened, Virginia spiraea (Spiraea
virginiana) is a unique disturbance dependant plant. In Ohio,
Virginia spiraea only occurs in three locations along the Scioto
Brush Creek. This rare plant is dependant on the scouring action
of gravel and sand bars along the creek’s banks.
SPIRAEA VIRGINIANA Britton
Appalachian Spiraea |
SPIRAEA VIRGINIANA
Britton
Appalachian Spiraea
FAMILY: Rosaceae
HABIT: Simple or sparingly branched shrub to 1 m.; flowering
June, July.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Unlikely to be confused with any native Ohio
Spiraea. Somewhat resembles the exotic Spiraea japonica L. which
does escape; however, S. japonica has pink flowers and
long-acuminate leaves, while S. virginiana has white flowers and
entire or sparingly toothed acute, mucronate leaves.
TOTAL RANGE: OH, GA, KY, NC, PA, TN, VA, and WV.
STATE RANGE: Known from a single site in Scioto County,
discovered in 1991. (Now three known sites)
STATE STATUS: 1992 to present: Endangered.
HABITAT: Damp, rocky streambanks and gravel bars. The Ohio
population occurs on a large, long-established gravel bar in a
fairly remote area of one of the least disturbed streams in
southern Ohio.
HAZARDS: Elimination of habitat due to channelization or other
stream "improvement" projects, gravel mining operations, or
other disturbance.
RECOVERY POTENTIAL: Unknown, but presumably poor, as this is a
rare species throughout its range, and may not be able to
readily colonize new sites.
INVENTORY GUIDELINES: Mature flowering or fruiting material
should be collected for positive identification. Plants should
not be collected without a Federal permit.
COMMENTS: The Ohio population occurs in a remote, difficult area
to access. Further survey work of appropriate habitat in
southern Ohio may locate additional populations.
SELECTED REFERENCES:
Gleason, Henry A. and Arthur Cronquist. 1991. Manual of the
Vascular Plants of the Northeastern United States and Adjacent
Canada, 2nd Ed. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York.
910 p.
Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
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