| Author | (Michaux) Nuttall | |
| Distribution | This is a fairly recent addition to the NC flora, with collections from Graham County (2011) in the Mountains and Caswell County (1991) in the northern Piedmont; and a second record from Graham County in 2013. There is also a confirmed March 2021 set of photos from Swain County, posted on iNaturalist.
This is a Midwestern and Ohio Valley species, ranging east to western NY and northern GA, and west to southeastern KS. There are a few additional Piedmont records from MD and central VA. | |
| Abundance | Very rare in Graham and Swain counties, and extremely rare (if still present) in the far northern Piedmont. This is a State Threatened species. | |
| Habitat | This is a species limited to high pH soils over mafic rocks or very rich alluvium. It grows in Rich Cove Forests and Basic Mesic Forests, and perhaps adjacent floodplain forests, in NC. |
| Phenology | Blooms very early, from February to May, and fruits shortly after flowering. This is a classic spring ephemeral species, seldom seen above ground after late April or early May. | |
| Identification | This is a quite familiar species in the Midwestern states, but sadly it is poorly known in the Atlantic states. This is a tiny species, rarely reaching 5-6 inches tall after flowering (but often just 2-3 inches high when flowering), usually with 1-2 leaves that are divided into pinnate sections, each section barely 1/4-inch long and with rounded and narrow "fingers". A few very small, white-flowered umbels are present at the end of the stem, each one barely 1/3-1/2-inch across. However, the purple color of the anthers is quite striking against the white petals. To find this gem of a species in NC, you must work rich forests in early spring and carefully look at tiny fern-like plants barely 2-3 inches tall! | |
| Taxonomic Comments | None
| |
| Other Common Name(s) | Pepper-and-salt | |
| State Rank | S1 | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | T | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | | |
| USACE-emp | | |
