About Gratiola quartermaniae D.Estes
Gratiola quartermaniae, commonly called Quarterman's hedge-hyssop or limestone hedge-hyssop, is a flowering plant species that belongs to the plantain family. It is native to eastern North America, and has a highly fragmented distribution. It is most abundant in the Interior Low Plateaus of Alabama and Tennessee. Disjunct populations of this species also exist in the Edwards Plateau of Texas, northern Illinois, the Pennyroyal Plain of Kentucky, and southern Ontario. Across all these scattered locations, the species grows in spots with pooled water over flat limestone outcrops, in habitats including cedar glades and alvars. It is thought that this recently described species may be more widespread than current records show. Because of its highly scattered range, restricted specific habitat, and the threat of habitat destruction in middle Tennessee, this species is classified as vulnerable. This species was first formally described in 2007. It is closely related to Gratiola neglecta, and older collections of Gratiola quartermaniae were previously misidentified as Gratiola neglecta. It can be distinguished from Gratiola neglecta by its more linear leaves, nearly hairless midstem, and thicker seeds. It produces tubular, cream-colored flowers during the spring.
