American Chaffseed

 

 

Habitat and Range:

• Found in pine forests with seasonally moist sandy soils.
• Does not grow well in shaded areas.
• Currently found along the coastal plain of New Jersey, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
• Only 72 populations are known to exist in the world, 17 are found on Fort Liberty.

Description:

• Latin name Schwalbea americana
• A member of the snapdragon family.
• A non-woody plant with bright yellow-purple tubular flowers.
• Flowers bloom from April to June.
• Entire plant is densely covered with tiny hairs.
• Grows 1-2 feet tall.
• A "hemi-parasite" - receives some of its food and water from the roots of other plants.