Schwalbea L. (Orobanchaceae)

Schwalbea is a monotypic genus. The single species, S. americana, is federally listed (Fed E, S1 G2).

Federally listed taxon—
Schwalbea americana (Fed E, State E | S1 G2)

Habitat. Savannas, sandhill-pocosin ecotones, or swales in sandhill longleaf pine woodlands.

Range. Endemic to the eastern United States.

Notes. The species is morphologically unique in North Carolina (distinguished from others in the family by strongly zygomorphic corollas and alternate, entire, lanceolate to lance-elliptic leaves). Among the chlorophyllous genera in the family, only three exhibit alternate leaves: Pedicularis (leaves pinnately lobed), Castilleja (leaves unlobed or 3-5-lobed apically) and Schwalbea (leaves unlobed). The bracts subtending the flowers are conspicuously red, orange, or yellow in Castilleja. In Schwalbea, these bracts are green. There are no other taxa with which it could be confused. In our state, the species occurs in the sandhills and southeastern Coastal Plain in savannas, sandhill-pocosin ecotones, or swales in sandhill longleaf pine woodlands.

Additional resources. NHP | Recovery plan | 5-yr review

Pinnately lobed leaves of Pedicularis canadensis (Photo: (c) 2004, Steven J. Baskauf, http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/)

Flower of Pedicularis canadensis (Photo: (c) 2004, Steven J. Baskauf, http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/)

Habit of Pedicularis canadensis (Britton & Brown 1913)

Red inflorescence bracts of Castilleja coccinea (Photo: (c) 2008, Steven J. Baskauf, http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/)

Habit of Castilleja coccinea (Britton & Brown 1913). Note 3-lobed leaves.

Flower of Schwalbea americana (Photo: Hugh and Carol Nourse). Note green bract subtending flower.

Habit of Schwalbea americana (Britton & Brown 1913). Note unlobed leaves.

Habit of Schwalbea americana (Photo: Krings).

Leaves of Schwalbea americana (Photo: Krings).

Leaf of Schwalbea americana (Photo: Krings).

Inflorescence of Schwalbea americana (Photo: Krings).

Inflorescence of Schwalbea americana (Photo: Krings).

Flower of Schwalbea americana (Photo: Krings).

Flower of Schwalbea americana (Photo: Krings).

Schwalbea americana*
(rare [Fed E, S1 G2]; savannas, sandhill-pocosin ecotones, longleaf pine swales; CP; spring to late summer)