Bejaria racemosa
| Bejaria racemosa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo taken by Michelle Smith at Archbold Biological Station | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Bejaria |
| Species: | B. racemosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Bejaria racemosa Vent. | |
| |
| Natural range of Bejaria racemosa from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common name: flyweed
Contents
Taxonomic notes
Synonym: Befaria racemosa Vent.
Description
A description of Bejaria racemosa is provided in The Flora of North America.
B. racemosa is a long live perennial shrub with leaves that are alternate, entire and coriaceous. The leaves and stems are covered with rough, firm, and stiff hairs.[1] It grows around 2 to 5 feet high and has large white flowers tinged pink. A viscid sticky substance that entraps insects is secreted on the stem below the flower.[2]
Species in the genus Bejaria have separate petals, radial symmetry, open rotate flowers, superior ovaries, and septicidal capsules; classifying them as the most primitive genus in Ericaceae.[3]
Distribution
It is a native to southeast Georgia and throughout Florida, except in the western panhandle and the keys [4].
Ecology
Habitat
In the Coastal Plain in Florida, B. racemosa has been found in pine flatwoods, scrub barrens, and sand pine scrubs[5]. It is drought tolerant and is found on well drained sandy soils in full sun to light shade [6]. Associated species include Callicarpa americana, Ceratiola ericoides, Rhus copallinum, slash pine, wax myrtle, and saw palmetto [4].
Phenology
Flowers are white with a pink tinge with black, sticky dehiscent fruit [4] [7]. It has been observed flowering and fruiting May through August[5].
Seed bank and germination
For some species native to fire-prone habitats, chemicals in smoke may induce germination, signaling the seed that the environmental conditions are favorable for germination and growth[8]. In a study done by Lindon and Menges (2008), they found that smoke exposure under five minutes did not effect the germination rate, however there was no germination for seeds exposed to smoke for more than five minutes.[8]
Pollination
The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Bejaria racemosa at Archbold Biological Station[9]:
Apidae: Apis mellifera, Bombus impatiens, B. pennsylvanicus
Halictidae: Agapostemon splendens, Augochlorella aurata, A. gratiosa, Augochloropsis sumptuosa
Megachilidae: Anthidiellum perplexum, Anthidium maculifrons, Coelioxys sayi, Megachile brevis pseudobrevis, M. mendica, M. petulans
Vespidae: Euodynerus boscii boharti, Monobia quadridens, Parancistrocerus histrio, P. salcularis rufulus, Pseudodynerus quadrisectus, Stenodynerus fundatiformis, Zethus spinipes
Conservation and management
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
Bejaria racemosa Photo by Michelle Smith
Archbold Biological Station, FL.
Bejaria racemosa Photo by Michelle Smith
Archbold Biological Station, FL.
References and notes
- ↑ [IFAS Extension] Accessed: December 2, 2015
- ↑ Webster, G. W.. Insectivorous Plants of South Florida. Science 22.546 (1893): 37–38.
- ↑ Kron, Kathleen A.. Phylogenetic Relationships of Rhododendroideae (Ericaceae). American Journal of Botany 84.7 (1997): 973–980.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 [IFAS Extension] Accessed: December 2, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: October 2015. Collectors: Michael B. Brooks, R.K. Godfrey, R. Kral, Sidney McDaniel, Jean W. Wooten. States and Counties: Florida: Dixie, Highlands, Palm Beach, St. Johns. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.
- ↑ [Natives for your neighborhood] Accessed: December 2, 2015.
- ↑ [Florida Native Plant Society]Accessed December 2, 2015
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lindon, H. L. and E. Menges (2008). "Scientific note: effects of smoke on seed germination of twenty species of fire-prone habitats in Florida." Castanea 73: 106-110.
- ↑ Deyrup, M.A. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.
