Gulf South Research Corporation



Return to the Endangered Plants of the Southeastern US Database





Georgia Plume

Elliottia racemosa




Elliottia racemosa
 Georgia Plume



State Heritage Status Rankings

Georgia (S2S3), South Carolina (SH)



 

Description:

Georgia plume is a rare deciduous shrub or small tree with furrowed gray bark obtaining a height of up to 45 feet. The alternately arranged leaves are elliptic to oval in shape and are 4 to 12 cm in length by 3 to 5 cm in width tapering at both ends. The leaves, with a tiny (0.5 mm) bristle at the apex, are also sometimes lightly pubescent on the undersides with entire margins and a central vein. Between September and October the foliage turns bright crimson-red in color. The fruit is a round capsule 10 to 14 mm in diameter produced from July to August. A dense terminal cluster of showy, plume-shaped flowers is a distinctive characteristic of the species. The flowers exhibit 4 or 5 white lobed petals, each being up to 14 mm in length. Georgia plume flowers between the months of June and July (Patrick et. al. 1995).

Habitat:

Georgia Plume in habits generally sunny to partially shady conditions on sand ridges, oak ridges, evergreen hammocks, and sandstone outcrops. The known locations in Georgia are mostly within the Altamaha- Ogeechee-Savannah river drainage system. Although this species is rare and localized, it occurs on a wide variety of sandy soil conditions ranging from moist to extremely dry (Patrick et. al. 1995).

Range:

Georgia plume is currently known to exist only in Georgia, where there are approximately 70 naturally occuring populations. The only colony known to occur in South Carolina has been extirpated (NatureServe, 2003).





References

  • NatureServe. 2003. Internet Resource. NatureServe.

    Patrick, T.S., Allison, J.R., and Krakow, G.A. 1995. Protected Plants of Georgia: AN INFORMATION MANUAL ON PLANTS DESIGNATED BY THE STATE OF GEORGIA AS ENDANGERED, THREATENED, RARE, OR UNUSUAL. Georgia Natural Heritage Program. Internet Resource. Protected Plants of Georgia.

    Radford, A.E., Ahles, H.E., Bell, C.R. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

    USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. Internet Resource USDA Plants Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

    Weakley, A.S. July 2002. Flora of the Carolinas and Virginia, Working Draft. Internet Resource. Flora of the Carolinas and Virginia.