Obolaria

<i>Obolaria</i>

Obolaria

Genus of flowering plants

Obolaria is a genus of flowering plant in the gentian family Gentianaceae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Obolaria virginica, commonly known as Virginia pennywort.[1]

Quick Facts Obolaria, Scientific classification ...

It is native to the eastern United States,[2] where it is found in nutrient-rich forests. It is believed to be mycoheterotrophic, getting much of its nutrients though a symbiotic relationship with fungi, instead of through its small purplish-green leaves.[3][4]

It is a perennial that produces white flowers in the spring. It is often difficult to locate due to its small stature, and tendency to be buried under leaf litter.[3][5]

References

  1. [1]
    USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Obolaria virginica". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  2. [2]
    "Obolaria virginica". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  3. [3]
    "Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States".
  4. [4]
    Cameron, Duncan; Bolin, Jay (2010). "Isotopic evidence of partial mycoheterotrophy in the Gentianaceae: Bartonia virginica and Obolaria virginica as case studies". American Journal of Botany. 97 (8): 1272–1277. doi:10.3732/ajb.0900292. PMID 21616879.
  5. [5]
    Missouri Plants
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