| Author | (L.) Drude | |
| Distribution | Present over nearly all of the Mountains, and in most of the Piedmont, with a surprising scarcity in the northwestern portion. Not found in the Coastal Plain or Sandhills.
This is a widespread Eastern and Midwestern species, ranging from VT and MN south to AL and eastern TX, though very rare on the Coastal Plains.
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| Abundance | Infrequent to fairly common in the Mountains; rare in the western Piedmont, but uncommon to infrequent in the eastern half of the Piedmont -- definitely a disparate range in the state. | |
| Habitat | This is one of the few umbel species that favors dry, circumneutral soils. It grows on dry wooded borders, roadbanks, open and often rocky woods, and in various glades and barrens -- almost always over rocks such as amphibolite, gabbro, diabase, and limestone. |
| Phenology | Blooms in April and May, and fruits from May to June. | |
| Identification | This is a medium-sized herb, growing with several branches, to about 1.5-2 feet tall. It has a smooth stem that is often somewhat glaucous. The scattered alternate leaves are rather large, but each is twice or thrice divided into leaflets, each about 1-inch long and 2/3rds as wide. This is a rare umbel species with entire leaflets, each one being elliptical to ovate but with a rounded apex; nearly all other yellow-flowered umbels have serrated leaflets. There are several umbels per plant, with 5-15 rays (and umbellets) per umbel. The flowers are a golden yellow color, like those of Thaspium and Zizia species. However, the umbels are rather sparsely flowered, and the umbellets are small, and thus the yellow color is not apparent at much distance. Nonetheless, the rounded leaflets with entire margins are unique among the NC umbels. When looking for this plant, keep an eye out for other noteworthy species in its high pH soil habitat. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | None
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| Other Common Name(s) | None | |
| State Rank | S3 [S4] | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | | |
| USACE-emp | | |
