National Collection of Imperiled Plants

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Photographer:

Robert Kral

Search Alphabetical List Reference Finder CPC Home

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Clematis socialis

Family:	Ranunculaceae
Common Name:	Alabama leather flower
Author:	Kral
Growth Habit:	Perennial
CPC Number:	1004

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

Profile Links

ITIS
Tropicos
PLANTS
Fish & WildLife

enlarge

Photographer: Robert Kral

enlarge

Photographer:

Clematis socialis is Fully Sponsored

Primary custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered Plants is:

North Carolina Botanical Garden

Clematis socialis

Alabama leather flower is an erect, non-viney perennial herb known from only five sites in northeast Alabama and one in northwest Georgia (USFWS 1989; NatureServe 2001). It was first discovered in St. Clair county Alabama in 1980 (USFWS 1989). It is found in silt-clay alluvial soils in full sun to part shade in grass-sedge-rush communities. These sites include highway rights-of-way, pasture land, and logged forests (USFWS 1989; NatureServe 2001). It blue-violet flowers emerge in late April through May and fruit development begins in June. Alabama leather flower also spreads vegetatively and its most distinctive feature is its rhizomatous habit and the formation of dense clones with erect stems reaching 18 to 30 cm. in height (Kral 1982).

Distribution & Occurrence

Top

State Range

Alabama
Georgia

Habitat

silt-clay alluvial soils in full sun to part shade in grass-sedge-rush communities
highway rights-of-way
pasture land
logged forests
(USFWS 1989)

Distribution

Ridge and Valley physiographic region of northeast Alabama and northwest Georgia (USFWS 1989).

Number Left

6 extant populations, 5 in Alabama and 1 in Georgia (USFWS 1989).

Protection

Top

Global Rank:	G1	12/1/2004	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	LE	10/24/1996	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	Yes	12/27/1989

State/Area Protection

	State/Area	Rank	Status	Date

Conservation, Ecology & Research

Top

Ecological Relationships

� C. socialis occurs in grass-sedge-rush communities, generally in full sun (USFWS 1989).
� Many of the sites where it is present are highway/utility rights-of-way. It is often found in association with many prairie indicator species . This suggests that natural openings present in the area prior to European settlement may have been its natural habitat (Kral 1982).
� There is very little sexual reproduction in the species, thus likely little genetic variability. However, the plant�s rhizomatous behavior has allowed it to expand into recently logged areas (USFWS 1989).
� It appears to grow most vigorously in areas with little competition and much bare ground, thus considered a poor competitor. It also may benefit from occasional disturbances that arrest succession (USFWS 1989)

Threats

� The loss of habitat is the main threat to C. socialis. This includes overgrowth of hardwood canopy, competition from other plants, herbicide use, mowing, road maintenance, and logging.

Current Research Summary

� Population dynamics, fire management and logging management studies are being conducted in Alabama (TNC and USFWS)

Current Management Summary

� Active management is under way at one protected site in Alabama. This includes maintaining an open canopy and reducing competition from surrounding vegetation. Prescribed burns and selective logging have also been implemented at some sites as a management tools. All landowners and other involved parties have been notified in regards to the presence of this rare plant on their properties. Some monitoring is currently carried out by the USFWS.

Research Management Needs

Research:
� More extensive monitoring programs are needed as well as basic research on C. socialis reproduction biology and associated community structure. Land use history of the extant populations is also needed.
Management:
� Land management that opens the canopy, such as prescribed burning and selective logging, is needed.

Ex Situ Needs

� Seed collection from all populations not represented in collection.

References

Top

Books (Single Authors)

Bailey, H.A.; Bailey A.W. 1982. Fire Ecology: United States and Southern Canada. New York and Canada: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 374p.

Books (Sections)

Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the U.S., Canada, and Greenland. In: Kartesz, J.T.; Meacham, C.A., editors. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden. Chapel Hill, NC.

Conference Proceedings

Bruner, L.L.; Eakes, D.J.; Sibley, J.; Morton, C.M.; Knight, P.R.; Cain, J.J. Effects of Medium on Rooting of Clematis socialis Stem Cuttings. 46. Proceedings of the 46th Annual Southern Nursery Association Research Conference; October, 2001; 2001. Southern Nursery Association, Inc. p 358-361.

Electronic Sources

(2002). Endangered Species. Alabama Forestry Commission--Alabama's TREASURED FORESTS magazine. http://www.forestry.state.al.us/publication/Endangered_Species_Articles_Index.htm. Accessed: 2002.

(2002). New York Botanical Garden--The Virtual Herbarium. [Searchable Web site] New York Botanical Garden. Fordham Road Bronx, New York. http://scisun.nybg.org:8890/searchdb/owa/wwwspecimen.searchform. Accessed: 2002.

NatureServe. (2008). NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. [Internet].Version 7.0. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. Accessed: (June 17, 2008).

Journal Articles

Boyd, R.S.; Hilton, C.D. 1994. Ecologic studies of the endangered species Clematis socialis Kral. Castanea. 59, 31-40

Kral, R.D. 1982. A new Clematis from northeastern Alabama. Rhodora. 84: 285-291.

Timmerman-Erskine, M.; Boyd, R.S. 1999. Reproductive biology of the endangered plant Clematis socialis (Ranunculaceae). Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society. 126, 2: 107-116.

USFWS. 1984. Regional Briefs--Region 4. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 9, 12: 11.

USFWS. 1985. Endangered status for Clematis socialis. Federal Register. 50, 235: 49970-49972.

USFWS. 1986. Listings Proposed for a Bird and Three Plants. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 11, 1: 1, 6-7.

USFWS. 1988. Regional News. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 13, 3: 2.

Reports

1995. 1995 Annual report on taxa in the national collection for North Carolina Botanical Garden. Annual report to the Center for Plant Conservation. p.1.

USFWS. 1989. Alabama Leather Flower Recovery Plan. Jackson, Mississippi: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.21.

Theses

Timmerman-Erskine, Margaret. 1992. Reproductive ecology of Clematis socialis. [M.S. Thesis]: Auburn University. 86p.

Search Other National Collection Profiles

This profile was updated on 3/4/2010