Geum geniculatum

Geum geniculatum is a species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common name bent avens.[1] It is endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains in the United States, where it occurs on only three mountains: Grandfather Mountain and Rich Mountain in North Carolina and Roan Mountain straddling the North Carolina-Tennessee border.[2][3]

Geum geniculatum

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Geum
Species:
G. geniculatum
Binomial name
Geum geniculatum
Michx.

Geum geniculatum is a perennial herb growing 50 to 70 centimeters (20-28 inches) tall. The three-parted leaves are 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.4-0.6 inches) long. The clustered flowers have white, pinkish, or greenish[4] petals. Flowering occurs in July and August.[2] The flowers are likely pollinated by bumblebees and honeybees.[4][1]

This may be a relict species, limited in distribution to the peaks of three mountains where conditions are cool and wet enough for it to survive. It grows on moist boulder fields and streambanks.[4] It often grows in shady conditions in a thick herb layer with rhododendrons and other plants.[2]

There are only four known populations of this species, but where it grows it may be locally abundant.[2]

References
  1. Flora of North America, Geum geniculatum Michaux, 1803. Bent avens
  2. Geum geniculatum. The Nature Conservancy.
  3. Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  4. Geum geniculatum. Archived 2011-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.
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