Parnassia asarifolia

This species is a perennial, wildflower herb that grows on an erect, green stem that is between 18-50 centimeters long and a single white flower at the top. It also has one pistil with a single, superior white-greenish ovary and four stigmas. == Distribution and habitat ==

Paranassia asarifolia is distributed across the southern Appalachian region and surrounding areas in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia. It is found in boggy or swampy areas such as fens, wet woods, rocky banks, and mountain bogs, and it is commonly in acidic soil in loam or sand in full sun to partial shade between 700-4900 feet of elevation. == Uses ==

There is no documentation of this species having a medicinal use, but it is said to be used in landscaping for native gardens in regions that it is indigenous to. == Cultivation ==

Since P. asarifolia is such a specialized species, gardeners will sometimes grow it in bog or wet-garden settings. == Conservation status ==

Paranassia asarifolia considered endangered in Kentucky and Maryland and uncommon throughout its range. == Etymology ==

The genus name Parnassia refers to Mount Parnassus in Greece, and asarifolia comes from the Latin-derived terms Asarum, meaning wild ginger, and folia, meaning leaf. This refers to the plant’s kidney-shaped leaves, which resemble those of wild ginger. The common name, kidneyleaf grass-of-Parnassus, is also a misnomer, as the plant is not a true grass. == Similar species ==

Parnassia asarifolia has similar species that come from the same genus Parnassia, have overlapping ranges and habitats, and also have morphological similarities. Parnassia grandifolia, known as big-leaf-grass-of-Parnassus also grows in wet areas but is generally associated with calcareous, or higher pH, soils rather than the acidic soils favored by P. asarifolia. This species has more leaves that are often longer than they are wide, unlike P. asarifolia. Parnassia caroliniana, or Carolina grass-of-Parnassus is a rare perennial that grows in wet prairies and seepage slopes in Florida and parts of the Carolinas. Like P. asarifolia, it has kidney-shaped basal leaves and white flowers with five veined petals, but has a more limited range. == Life history ==

Parnassia asarifolia is a perennial that comes back each year from the same rootstock. Flowering occurs from mid-summer to early fall (July–October), followed by the development of capsule fruits from September to November. The species reproduces exclusively by seed and is long-lived in its specialized wetland habitats, such as bogs and seeps. == Ecology ==

This species occurs in wetland habitats that stay moist year-round and thrives in acidic (pH < 6.0) soil. It is a perennial herb and produces solitary white flowers with green veins. Although its specific pollinators are not documented, other members of the genus Parnassia generally rely on insect pollination as they are attracted from the fake nectar droplets on the sterile staminodes, which suggests that P. asarifolia would be pollinated similarly. == Research focus ==

There is not much research done on P. asarifolia, but the species has attracted attention mainly for its scarcity and specialized wetland habitats. Surveys of regional populations, including the rediscovery of a population in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, show how restricted and potentially vulnerable its occurrences can be. ==References==