Gaylussacia orocola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gaylussacia orocola |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Gaylussacia
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| Species: |
orocola
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Gaylussacia orocola, also known as the Appalachian dwarf huckleberry or Blue Ridge bog huckleberry, is a special plant. It grows only in the southern Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina. This plant is very rare because it can only live in certain wet areas called Mountain Bogs. Because of this, it has very few places to grow.
What Does the Appalachian Dwarf Huckleberry Look Like?
The Appalachian dwarf huckleberry is a small, upright shrub with many branches. Its leaves are oval-shaped and feel a bit leathery. The very tip of each leaf has a tiny point. Leaves that get a lot of sun might turn a little red.
This plant has white, bell-shaped flowers. These flowers grow in groups along the stems. The plant also produces juicy berries. These berries are a deep blue-black color. Birds and other animals love to eat them. However, for humans, the berries do not have much taste.
Why is This Plant Endangered?
The Appalachian dwarf huckleberry is in great danger. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) says it is an Endangered plant. This means it has legal protection in North Carolina. The NCNHP also calls it "Significantly Rare-Limited." This shows that most of these plants live in North Carolina. So, saving them depends on efforts within the state.
As of 2021, experts say this plant is "Critically Imperiled." This is a very serious status. It means there are only five or fewer groups of these plants left. Or, there are fewer than 1,000 individual plants remaining. This makes the species very likely to disappear forever.
Even though it is endangered in North Carolina, the Gaylussacia orocola has not been checked by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN makes a worldwide list of endangered species called the IUCN Red List. This plant also does not have protection from the national government. The Center for Plant Conservation has said this plant is at extreme risk. This is mainly because it is losing its natural homes.
This plant used to be found in Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, and Macon counties. But in 2021, it could only be found in Transylvania and Henderson counties. This shows how much its habitat has shrunk.
How Are People Helping This Plant?
To help save the Appalachian dwarf huckleberry, the North Carolina Botanical Garden is working hard. They have collected 2,136 seeds from two of the three places where the plant still grows. This is part of their special program to save rare plant seeds.
These important seeds are stored in two places. Some are kept at the Botanical Garden's own seed bank. Others are stored at the National Laboratory for Genetic Resource Preservation in Colorado. This way, if the plant disappears in the wild, there will still be seeds to help bring it back.
