Alabama snow-wreath

Description:

Alabama snow-wreath, a deciduous species typically growing in large clumps up to 1 to 2 meters (m) in height (NatureServe 2004). The species has short white hairs pressed against the surface of the twigs and leaves, being the most dense on the petioles and along the main veins of the underside of the leaves. Alabama snow-wreath has alternate, ovate to broadly elliptic, sharply toothed leaves approximately 2 to 5 cenimeters (cm) in length by 1.2 to 3.0 cm in width. The leaves are prominently veined with a single midvein and secondary veins in a "fishbone" arrangement. In mid-April, solitary or flat-topped flower clusters develop containing 2 to 10 flowers originating from slender stalks approximately 1.5 to 2 cm in length. Each flower has ovate to elliptic bract-like sepals 8 to 12 millimeters (mm) in length which are toothed toward the apex. The stamens and sepals arise from a flattened, ring-like disk, which persists wth sepals attached sometimes until leaf drop. Each flower has numerous white protuding stamens (see flower image). From June to mid-October, 1 to few seeded fruit which rarely develop are softly hairy, ovid in shape and approximately 4 to 5 mm in length. Alabama snow-wreath resembles some species of spirea, but Alabama snow-wreath can be distinguished by its thicket-forming growth habit, wand-like arching stems, tiny white hairs, and showy white flowers. The species also has persistent stipules at the base of the petioles which are absent in Spiraeas (Patrick et. al. 1995).

Habitat:

Alabama snow-wreath inhabits forested bluffs, talus slopes, and streambanks (NatureServe 2004) on blocky limestone boulders and along limestone-bedded intermittent streams below the sandstone caprock on the Cumberland plateau. Associate species include sugar maple (Acer saccharum), Biltmore ash (Fraxinus americana var. biltmoreana), and chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) (Patrick et. al. 1995). The species, usually is found in large clonal clumps (above image), inhabiting an open to completely closed forest canopy. Many sites are potentially threatened. Potential threats include timber harvesting, recreational development, encroachment by undesirable weedy species, grazing, urban expansion, and forest management practices (NatureServe 2004).

Range:

Most Alabama snow-wreath colonies are located along the Mississippi Embayment, a sediment-filled structural feature that has been affected over geologic time by glaciation in the northern river basin and as well as sea level changes to the south (NatureServe 2004).