Dicerandra frutescens
| Dicerandra frutescens | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae ⁄ Labiatae |
| Genus: | Dicerandra |
| Species: | D. frutescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Dicerandra frutescens Shinners | |
| |
| Natural range of Dicerandra frutescens from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common name: scrub balm
Contents
Taxonomic notes
Description
D. frutescens is a short-lived perennial, suffruticose species with a shallow tap root (Huck 1987; Menges 1992). There are two types of shoots: vegetative and reproductive[1]. Species of Dicerandra contain essential oils and terpenoid mixtures that gives each species an unique odor (McCormick et al. 1993).
It can be distinguished from D. christmanii, another scrub mint found narrowly distributed along the Lake Wales Ridge, by having a minty aroma, longer leaves, and deep purple anthers (Huck et al. 1989).
Distribution
Distribution is limited to the excessively yellow drained sand of the southern portion of the Lake Wales Ridge (Menges 1992).
Ecology
Habitat
D. frutescens can be found to occupy a small range in the southern portion of the Lake Wales ridge in xerophytic scrub oak communities on excessively drained yellow sands (FSU Herbarium; Menges 1999). Specific sand types include Astatula and Paola and Orsino (Menges 1992). It often can be seen growing in gaps due to the high soil water availability, light levels, and low leaf litter accumulation (Weedley et al. 2007). Populations have been observed in disked areas such as fire lanes (Menges 2008). Associated species include Lyonia ferruginea, Persea humilis, Carya floridana and Quercus laevis (Menges 1992).
Phenology
The flowers of D. frutescens are perfect and reproduce with outcrossing and are self compatible (Evans et al. 2003). The upper lip of the flower is marked internally with a purple trellis pattern of lines and dots, the lower lip is maculate with larger spots from lobe bases to the base of the lip [1]. It has two pairs of stamen, with one pair being slightly longer and spurred anthers for insect pollination (Kral 1983). Flowers occur August through winter and fruit September through winter.
Seed dispersal
Seed bank and germination
Fire ecology
Pollination
It has spurred anthers that require triggereing by insects to release and disperse the pollen [1]. It is mainly pollinated by bee-flies (Exoprosopa fasciata)(Evans et al. 2003). Pollinators have been observed to visit flowers in the sun more than three times higher than flowers occurring in the shade (Deyrup and Menges 1997). Reproduction has been shown to have a positive correlation with population size and density (Evans et al. 2003).
The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Dicerandra frutescens at Archbold Biological Station (Deyrup 2015):
Apidae: Apis mellifera, Bombus impatiens, B. pennsylvanicus
Halictidae: Augochlorella aurata, Lasioglossum placidensis
Megachilidae: Megachile petulans
Use by animals
Diseases and parasites
Conservation and Management
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
References and notes
Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.
Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: October 2015. Collectors: P. Alcorn, Steven P. Christman, Robert K. Godfrey, Walter S. Judd, J.D. Skean. States and Counties: Florida: Highlands. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.
