Georgia Indian Plantain - Arnoglossum sulcatum

 

Yet another member of the Indian plantain genus (Arnoglossum spp.).  Georgia Indian plantain  (A. sulcatum) occurs in semi-shaded wetland habitats across much of the Florida Panhandle as well as in southern Georgia and Alabama.  It has been vouchered in one Mississippi county as well.

Like other members of this genus, Georgia Indian plantain dies back to the ground in winter and reemerges in spring.  It reaches its mature height of 4-5 feet by early summer.  The basal leaves are ovate, thick and glossy with a distinct petiole.  These often are absent by the summer blooming season.  The leaves alternate up the stem and become much reduced in size and lack a petiole.  The leaf margins are often edged in red  and are noticeably toothed.

Flowering occurs atop the single stalk in summer.  They are typical for the genus - urn shaped and basically white in color although the tips of the buds are red/rose.  Indian plantains generally attract a wide variety of pollinators and I suspect that Georgia Indian plantain is no exception.

Very few of Florida's native Indian plantains have been offered for sale commercially by nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries though such species would seem to have a place in landscapes designed for pollinators.  

The lower 3 photos were taken by my friend, Floyd Griffith, and are used by permission.