Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Fabids: Celastrales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Parnassia caroliniana
FAMILY
Parnassiaceae
NEW! Click to go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Read more about Carolina Grass-of-Parnassus at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
Check out Jim Fowler's blog describing an October trip to NC's Green Swamp with Carolina Grass-of-Parnassus, Slender Rattlesnake-root, Long-lipped Ladies’-tresses orchid, and Pine Barren Gentian in glorious bloom.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Parnassia caroliniana
FAMILY
Saxifragaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 094-06-002:
Parnassia caroliniana
FAMILY
Saxifragaceae
COMMON NAME:
Carolina Grass-of-Parnassus, Savanna Parnassia, Eyebright
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
Jim Fowler jafparnassiacaroliniana01
November Brunswick County NC
Green Swamp
Main parallel veins usually not dilated toward apex; outermost vein branching, per Weakley's Flora.
)
Jim Fowler jafparnassiacaroliniana03
November Brunswick County NC
Green Swamp
Midway between petal base & apex, (9)11-17 main parallel veins; ovary white, per Weakley's Flora.
)
JK Marlow jkm151121_027
November Mecklenburg County NC
UNCC McMillan Greenhouse
)
JK Marlow jkm151121_030
November Mecklenburg County NC
UNCC McMillan Greenhouse
Leaves nearly all basal, broadly ovate; 1-2 smaller leaves on flower stems, per Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region.
)
JK Marlow jkm151121_033
November Mecklenburg County NC
UNCC McMillan Greenhouse
Flowers grow singly atop stems 8-20" tall, per Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region.
)
JK Marlow jkm151121_044
November Mecklenburg County NC
UNCC McMillan Greenhouse
The creamy white ovary turns brown with age, per Atlantic Coastal Plain Wildflowers.
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Parnassia caroliniana
FAMILY
Parnassiaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Parnassia caroliniana
FAMILY
Saxifragaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 094-06-002:
Parnassia caroliniana
FAMILY
Saxifragaceae
2298
Forb
Perennial
Native to the Carolinas
Habitat: Wet longleaf pine, pond pine, or pond cypress savannas (especially but not strictly where shallowly underlain by coquina limestone), sandhill seepage bogs, per Weakley's Flora
NEW! Click here to see a map from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US showing range and abundance.
Click here to see a map showing all occurrences known to SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria. (Zoom in to see more detail.)
LEAVES:
Simple
Mostly basal
FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
White
Bisexual
Radially symmetrical
5 sepals
5 petals
5 stamens & 5 staminodia
Superior ovary
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Capsule
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Wildflowers p152
- Guide to the Wildflowers of SC p319
- Wildflowers of the Atlantic Southeast p138
- Wildflowers of the Eastern United States p025
- Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region p166