About Leavenworthia stylosa A.Gray
Leavenworthia stylosa A.Gray is a species of flowering plant in the Brassicaceae family, commonly called cedar gladecress or long-styled gladecress. This annual herb grows to a maximum height of 3 inches (7.6 centimeters). It grows exclusively in the Central Basin of Tennessee, in habitats including cedar glades, ditches, and low-lying fields. It typically blooms between March and May. Its flowers are roughly 1 inch wide, and may be white or yellow with a yellow center. The tips of its petals are notched. Yellow varieties of this plant are more common north of Nashville, while white varieties are more common south of Nashville. As indicated by one of its common names, this species only grows in cedar glades and adjacent habitat. Cedar glades are sites in central eastern United States where limestone sits at the surface, creating a unique, unusual ecosystem. Along with the Eastern red cedar that gives the glades their name, Leavenworthia stylosa is one of the characteristic plant species of this ecosystem.
