Xerophyllum asphodeloides
Xerophyllum asphodeloides is a North American species of flowering plants in the Melanthiaceae known by the common names turkey beard, eastern turkeybeard, beartongue, grass-leaved helonias, and mountain asphodel. It is native to the eastern United States, where it occurs in the southern Appalachian Mountains from Virginia to Alabama, and also in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.
This species is a rhizomatous perennial herb growing up to 1.5 meters tall. The leaves are threadlike to linear and have serrated edges. They grow up to 50 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a long raceme of flowers with six cream-white tepals. The fruit is a capsule.
Associated species may include Quercus prinus, Quercus marilandica, Pinus echinata, Quercus stellata, Sassafras albidum, Pinus rigida, Aster dumosus, Aster paternus, Cypripedium acaule, Polygonella articulata, Solidago odora var. odora, Solidago puberula var. puberula, Trichostema dichotomum, Gaylussacia baccata, Hudsonia ericoides, Hudsonia montana, Ilex glabra, Kalmia angustifolia, Leiophyllum buxifolium, Lyonia mariana, Myrica caroliniensis, Pyxidanthera barbulata, Quercus ilicifolia, Rhus copallinum, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Vaccinium pallidum.
The plant is most common in New Jersey and Virginia. It is less common throughout the rest of its range. It is threatened by the loss and fragmentation of its habitat and fire suppression.