Aureolaria flava
Aureolaria flava, commonly called smooth yellow false foxglove or Gérardie jaune, is a species of plant in the broomrape family that is native to the eastern United States and some parts of southern Canada. Aureolaria flava is a species of flowering plants found within the genus Aureolaria. Aureolaria plants are hemiparasitic, which is a character that in part describes its residing family Orobanchaceae.
It is a perennial that produces yellow flowers in the late summer on herbaceous stems.
Description
Aureolaria flava is described as arching, ascending or erect. Often growing up to 50–250 cm long, the stem and leaves of this plant are characteristically mostly glabrous. The stems are often described as purplish tinged or somewhat glaucous and consistently fistulose. Aureolaria flava are perennial and bisexual with a superior ovary.Aureolaria flava has distinctly pinnatifid leaves. Commonly 6–15 cm long, leaf apex acute, opposite or decussate, and margins entire. Leaf adaxial deep green with light amounts of nonglandular puberulous hairs. The abaxial side of the leaf is lighter green and glabrous.
Aureolaria flava has bright yellow flowers June to September. Bell shaped calyces between 9–16 mm long, 5 lobed, glabrous, linear, with entire margins. Bell shaped corollas 35–60 mm long, glabrous externally, pubescent at the internal base and lobe margins. 4 stamens fused to the base of the corolla tube. Anthers up to 7mm long spurred at the base surround with dark green nectary ring.
Aureolaria flava has small fruit capsules 12–20 mm long which are often glabrous and ovoid. Seeds are 1.7-2.7 mm long, with coarse winglike ridges.
Aureolaria flava is often mistaken for other members of its genus however the glabrous stem is very distinct to providing easy differentiation.
Habitat and host species
Aureolaria flava is hemiparasitic, establishing connection between its roots and those of its host plant via a haustoria, a specialized type of root. Aureolaria flava is only partially parasitic as it photosynthesizes and contains green tissue, the host plant provides water, additional sugars, and proteins to supplement the needs of the plant. Aureolaria flava grows commonly within hardwood forests preferring oaks specifically white oaks. Subsequently there is a preference for well drained soils, although A. flava can still be found within diverse habitats. It is suggested that as a weak parasite Aureolaria flava does little to no damage large host trees and may even help absorb some mineral nutrients for the trees.Range and conservation status
Aureolaria flava has a broad distribution in the eastern United States and Canada. The plant is listed as critically imperiled within the state of Delaware. Aureolaria flava is considered imperiled in Pennsylvania, Vermont and Ontario. This concerning status of Aureolaria flava within several states is due to a reliance on semi-open oak ecosytems. Oak ecosystems are under threat for a variety of reasons within eastern North America which directly puts Aureolaria flava at risk. Odocoileus virginianus, white tailed deer, also present a significant threat to A. flava with continually growing deer populations leading to increased predation of many plant species.Synonyms
Aureolaria flava has many synonyms due in part due to its reclassification from the Scrophulariaceae to the Orobanchaceae and generic reclassification. Listed below many of the commonly accepted synonyms of Aureolaria flava.Agalinis ''flava B.Boivin
Aureolaria calycosa
Aureolaria flava var. integrifolia Farw.
Aureolaria flava var. reticulata Pennell
Aureolaria flava subsp. reticulata Pennell
Aureolaria reticulata Raf.
Aureolaria villosa Raf.
Dasistoma aurea Raf.
Dasistoma calycosa Mack. & Bush
Dasistoma flava Alph.Wood
Dasistoma pubescens Benth.
Dasystoma flava Alph. Wood
Gerardia calycosa Fernald
Gerardia flava L.
Gerardia flava var. calycosa Steyerm.
Gerardia flava var. macrantha Fernald
Gerardia flava var. reticulata Cory
Gerardia villosa'' Muhl. ex Raf.