Stenanthium leimanthoides (A. Gray) Zomlefer & Judd

pine barrens death camas

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Forb/herb

Perennial

Vascular

10

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New circumscriptions of Zigadenus and Stenanthium have been proposed based on evidence from DNA, morphology, cytology and distribution (Zomlefer et al. 2001, Zomlefer and Smith 2002, Zomlefer et al. 2006). In this new circumscription, Zigadenus leimanthoides is transferred to Stenanthium (Zomlefer and Judd 2002). Wofford (2006) states, that there are "significant morphological and geographical distinctions" between the new additions to Stenanthium (including S. leimanthoides) and previously recognized members of the genus (particularly S. gramineum). He goes on to say that the "transfer to Stenanthium may be subject to debate by botanists emphasizing morphology and biogeography." Still, Zomlefer et al. (2006) continues to elucidate morphological distinctions that support the new circumscription of Zigadenus and Stenanthium. Stenanthium leimanthoides and the very closely related S. densum do form a clade that is distinct from S. gramineum and likely the apparently closely related S. diffusum, but leaving S. leimanthoides and S. densum in the genus Zigadenus is contradictory to the evidence presented by the recent studies mentioned above (i.e. Zomlefer et al. 2001, Zomlefer and Smith 2002, Zomlefer et al. 2006). We follow the new circumscriptions. Stenanthium leimanthoides and S. densum are very closely related and "possibly conspecific" (McDearmann 1984 in Zomlefer et al. 2001). According to Schwartz (2002) the two taxa are distinct in parts of their range but intergrade in the Gulf Coast region. Schwartz lumps the two under S. densum (as Z. densus) but indicates that recognition at the varietal level may be more appropriate. According to Weakley (2008), the two taxa are "very distinct in many ways" and the Gulf Coast plants may represent a form of S. densum sensu stricto only. We follow Weakley’s maintenance of the two as distinct at the specific level until more evidence is presented. Stenanthium leimanthoides is the only taxon that occurs in New York.

Native FACW, OBL (NWPL) OBL (NWPL EMP) OBL (NWPL NCNE) S1 (State Rank) GNR (Global Rank)

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