About Rugelia nudicaulis Shuttlew. ex Chapm.
Rugelia nudicaulis (common names: Rugel's Indian plantain, Rugels ragwort) is the only species in the genus Rugelia. This summer-blooming wildflower is endemic to higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains, and it is considered a rare species in Tennessee. Studies of its genetic diversity using allozymes have found that this species has such low genetic diversity that it may not be able to survive changing environmental conditions. Both its scientific name and common names honor Ferdinand Rugel, a botanist and plant collector who collected plant specimens across the southeastern United States between 1840 and 1848.
