There are 16 plants that are endangered in the state of Georgia. There are many reasons, some are habitat and some are from clear cutting, but each of these are on a special watch list. If any of these are found in any county in Georgia, whether that county is listed here or not, please report it to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. This article looks at eight of them.
Hairy Rattleweed
Hairy Rattleweed, or Baptisia arachnifera, is endangered due to pest problems and the fungi that will keep the plant from reproducing like normal. There is also a worry that clear cutting is affecting the populations as well. This plant is only in Georgia, and is concentrated in Brantley and Wayne counties.
Smooth Purple Coneflower
Smooth Purple Coneflower, or Echinacea laevigata, is only in two counties in Georgia currently; Habersham and Stephens. It is thought to be endangered from doing maintenance on power lines, the roadways and construction due to highways, and those who collect the plant illegally.
Canby’s Dropwort
Canby’s Dropwort, or Oxypolis canbyi, is in six counties in Georgia. These are Sumter, Screven, Lee, Jenkins, Dooly, and Burke. As the wetlands leave Georgia, so does this water loving plant.
Piedmont Mock Bishopweed
Piedmont Mock Bishopweed, or Ptilimnium nodosum, is only in three counties in Georgia at the time of this writing. They are Schley, Greene, and Dooly counties. Pollution and development along shorelines threaten this plant.
Dwarf Sumac
Dwarf Sumac, or Rhus michauxii, is now only in five counties in Georgia. Those counties include Columbia, Elbert, Muscogee, Cobb, and Newton. There is a loss of its natural habitat and it has very low reproductive capabilities to keep the species out of danger.
Green Pitcher Plant
Green Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia oreophila, is now in only one country statewide and very threatened there. That county is Towns. Due to land development and the commercialized selling of the plants (and poachers) it is endangered and facing extinction.
Chaffseed
Chaffseed, or Schwalbea americana, is now found in Doughtery and Baker counties in Georgia. It is extirpated (fully destroyed) from Pike, Miller, Worth, Early, and Baldwin counties. Due to its habitat conversion and the varying forestry practices in the state, it is now endangered.
Eastern Fringed Catchfly
Eastern Fringed Catchfly, or Silene polypetala, is in six counties in Georgia. They are Decatur, Taylor, Talbot, Upson, Crawford, and Bibb. With the spread of Japanese honeysuckle throughout the land and the logging in woodland areas, this plant is now endangered.
 |
