Stylisma pickeringii var. pickeringii
 |
 |
Photo Courtesy Renee Brecht |
Britton & Brown |
| Botanical name: | Stylisma pickeringii var. pickeringii |
| Common name: | Pickering's morning glory |
| Group: | dicot |
| Family: | Convolvulaceae |
| Growth type: | vine; forb/herb |
| Duration: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Plant height: | forms a mound of 1-2 meters |
| Foliage: | Stems prostrate, leaves narrowly linear, tapering toward the base. |
| Flower: | white, 5 petals, small clusters of 1-5 |
| Flowering time: | mid July to late August |
| Habitat: | dry to xeric, nutrient poor, well-drained, coarse sandy soils with little to no competing vegetation or litter |
| Range in New Jersey: | Pine barrens |
| Heritage ranking, if any: | S1. State endangered, listed Pinelands. |
| Distribution: |  |
| Misc. | This subspecies known only from the
New Jersey Pine Barrens. Ecological Relationships ’ΔΆ There is slight morphological variation between the disjunct populations (Fernald and Schubert 1949). ’ΔΆ S. pickeringii appears to be a primary successional species and cannot invade or colonize new areas without some sort of disturbance, whether fire or mechanical. In fact, spread of the dawnflower is greatest just following a spring or summer burn, where new shoots can colonize, flower, and set seed on newly cleared soil (TNC 1993). The optimal fire intensity, however, is unknown. Current Management Summary ’ΔΆ Many populations occur in managed sandhills that presently receive regular prescribed burns. However, there are a significant number of roadside and other populations that lack a current management strategy (Bert Pittman, SC Natural Heritage Trust Program, pers. comm.). ’ΔΆ Researchers in NJ report that prescribed burns destroyed populations in their state (TNC 1993). Center for Plant Conservation NJ DEP Element Stewardship Abstract Named for Charles Pickering (1805-1878), a prominent Philadelphia naturalist, member of the Wilkes Exploring Expedition, and prominent in local botanical work.(Stone, 653) |