Asarum contractum

Asarum contractum

Vulnerable  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Piperales
Family: Aristolochiaceae
Genus: Asarum
Species:
A. contractum
Binomial name
Asarum contractum
(H.L.Blomq.) Barringer[2]

Asarum contractum, commonly known as the mountain heartleaf,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the pipevine family.

It is native to eastern North America, where it has an unusual distribution. It is nearly endemic to the Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky and Tennessee, but there are disjunct populations in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and Virginia.[4][3] Its preferred habitat is the deep shade of acidic forests, often growing under Kalmia latifolia and Rhododendron maximum.[5] Due to its restricted range, it is considered vulnerable.[1]

It flowers in late spring, where it produces a tube shaped flower at ground level.[6]

Its homotypic synonym is Hexastylis contracta.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Hexastylis contracta". NatureServe. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  2. ^ a b "Asarum contractum (H.L.Blomq.) Barringer". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Hexastylis contracta (Mountain Heartleaf) - FSUS". fsus.ncbg.unc.edu. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  4. ^ Kartesz, John T. (2014). "Hexastylis contracta". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  5. ^ Flora of North America
  6. ^ Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission