| Author | L. | |
| Distribution | The var. angustifolium is restricted to the Piedmont, and in this province limited to a NE-SW band through the east-central portions -- east to Granville and Chatham counties, and west to Caswell, Guilford, and Mecklenburg counties. The var. eamesii is restricted to the southern Mountains -- see that account.
This is an Eastern and Mideastern species, ranging from NJ, PA, and MO south to central NC and northeastern TX.
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| Abundance | Rare to locally uncommon; most numerous on the Durham diabase sill from Granville County to northern Durham County. This is a Watch List species. | |
| Habitat | This is a species of dry to mesic edges and open woods, always over circumneutral soil. It grows in mafic barrens and glades, around outcrops, and wooded borders, over mafic rocks such as diabase, gabbro, and amphibolite. | |
| Phenology | Blooms in April and May, and fruits from July to August. | |
| Identification | This species is a medium-sized herb growing to 1.5-2 feet tall. It has several pairs of stem leaves, each elliptical in shape but with a clasping base, with the leaf blade gradually tapering to the base; each leaf averages about 4-5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. In each leaf axil grows one or a few flowers, each tubular and nearly 1-inch long, with 5 short flaring lobes; each flower is light yellow. The fruit (drupe) is orange, ripening about 3 months after flowering. The only other Triosteum in its range in the state is the more numerous (though still infrequent) T. perfoliatum. That species is usually taller and more robust, has wider leaves that also are wide at the base where they clasp the stem (i.e., the blade does not narrowly taper to the stem), and flowers are maroon to purplish-brown in color, with a red to reddish-orange drupe. To find T. angustifolium, you need to locate sites over high pH soils, and look around wooded margins or openings in upland woods. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | Weakley (2022) lists two varieties in NC -- the nominate var. angustifolium, and var. eamesii in the Mountains.
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| Other Common Name(s) | Lesser Horse-gentian, Yellow Horse-gentian, Narrowleaf Horse-gentian | |
| State Rank | S2 | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | [W7] | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | UPL link |
| USACE-emp | FAC link |
