CAMPANULACEAE

CAMPANULACEAE View in CoL View at ENA

Rediscovery of Lobelia boykinii in Florida and recent records from Georgia Primary authors: J. Richard Carter,Wilson Baker,& Amy M. Jenkins

Lobelia boykinii Torr. & A. Gray ex A. DC. View in CoL , a Coastal Plain endemic inhabiting cypress ponds and depression meadows, ranges from New Jersey southward to the Florida Panhandle and westward into southern Mississippi ( Sorrie & Leonard 1999; Spaulding & Barger 2016; Weakley & Southeastern Flora Team 2023). Recently rediscovered in Delaware ( McAvoy & Wilson 2014), it was known historically in Florida only from Okaloosa County (Kral 2915, 20 July 1956, FSU) and Jackson County (R.K Godfrey 59540, 20 May 1960, FSU) records ( FNAI 2021). A 2021 survey of herbarium records, historical sites, and suitable habitat in Florida revealed no extant populations, and the species was thought to be extirpated from the state ( FNAI 2021). In 2023, while conducting a general floristic inventory of Livingston Place in Jefferson County, Florida, JRC and WB discovered a population of Boykin’s Lobelia View in CoL growing in an isolated ephemeral pond, as follows.

U.S. A. FLORIDA. Jefferson Co.: 30.637235°, –83.675062°; Livingston Place , pond #42, 1.67 mi E (heading 96.40°) of Big House , 6 Jun 2023, Richard Carter 26762 with Wilson Baker ( VSC) .

This Lobelia boykinii population, estimated at several hundred aerial stems, was locally abundant in shallow water along the margin of an isolated ephemeral pond, with Nyssa biflora Walter , Cephalanthus occidentalis L., Hypericum myrtifolium Lam. , H. harperi R. Keller , Rhynchospora careyana Fernald , R. tracyi Britton , Eleocharis equisetoides (Elliott) Torr. , Carex verrucosa Muhl. , Hymenachne hemitomon (Schult.) C.C. Hsu , Pontederia lanceolata Nutt. , Sclerolepis uniflora (Walter) Britton et al. , Bacopa caroliniana (Walter) B.L. Rob. , Proserpinaca pectinata Lam. , Juncus polycephalos Michx. , J.effusus L, Pluchea baccharis (Mill.) Pruski , Eriocaulon decangulare L., Saururus cernuus L., Nymphaea odorata Aiton , and species of Sagittaria , Fuirena , Leersia , and Xyris . The site was subject to regular and controlled use of fire and exhibited evidence of recent mechanical disturbance by a roller-chopper forestry implement. Owned and managed by Tall Timbers Research Station ( TTRS), Livingston Place comprises about 9,000 acres consisting primarily of rolling uplands dotted with numerous and diverse karst ponds in a matrix of old-field woodlands, longleaf pine-wiregrass savanna, and agricultural land. Searches of numerous similar ponds on the property revealed no additional populations of L. boykinii . The TTRS administration has been informed of the presence and significance of this population and is committed to its protection.

Additional recently vouchered populations in southern Georgia: U.S.A. GEORGIA. Ben Hill Co.: 31.68699°N, 83.05228°W, ca. 100 m W of jct. Hwy GA 206 and Broxton-Fitzgerald Hwy, powerline right-of-way along N side of hwy, open edge of isolated pondcypress-swampblackgum-myrtleholly pond, with Taxodium ascendens , Nyssa biflora , Ilex myrtifolia , Sagittaria graminea , Ludwigia pilosa , Rhynchospora careyana , Juncus , Polygala cymosa , Pluchea , Lachnanthes carolinianum , Polygala cymosa , plants locally abundant, stem hollow, 14 May 2017, R. Carter 22955 with F.Snow ( VSC). Coffee Co.: 31.63508°N, 82.68967°W,Mark Mobley Road 2.86 miles east of junction with Hwy US 221, cypress pond immediately east of intersection of Mark Mobley Rd.and James Moore Rd, 16 May 2017, F.Snow s.n. ( VSC). Jeff Davis Co.: 31.70563°N, 82.708°W, 1.23 mi S Denton jct. Hwy US 221/ GA 135 and Georgia Ave,along E side Hwy US 221/ GA 135, degraded isolated seasonally wet depression,bisected by hwy and inter-planted with loblolly pine,with Pinus taeda , Nyssa biflora , Taxodium ascendens , Ilex myrtifolia , Acer rubrum , Persea palustris , Magnolia virginiana , Myrica cerifera , Amphicarpum muehlenbergianum , Ludwigia pilosa , Coreopsis nudata , Lachnanthes caroliniana , Scutellaria integrifolia , Juncus , Rhynchospora , Woodwardia virginica , Sphagnum , plants locally abundant, stem ±succulent, 6 May 2017, R. Carter 22898 with B. Goulet ( VSC). Lanier Co.: 31.13267°N, 82.97758°W, 0.53 mi SW jct. Hwy GA 168 and Hwy US 221, just S of milemarker 17,along E side Hwy US 221,pond cypress-swamp black gum-hypericum pond,with Taxodium ascendens , Nyssa biflora , Hypericum fasciculatum , H. myrtifolium , Stillingia aquatica , Coreopsis nudata , plants rare, but occasional locally, 3 May 2015, R. Carter 22320 with S. M. Carter ( VSC). Lowndes Co.: 30.879893°N, 83.226586°W,just E of Valdosta, 0.70 mi ENE jct. Inner Perimeter Rd and Lakeland Hwy (Hwy US 221), powerline right-of-way along S side of hwy, open, seasonally wet flatwoods depression, with Nyssa biflora , Taxodium ascendens , Pinus elliottii , Myrica cerifera , Hypericum fasciculatum , Eriocaulon decangulare , E. compressum , Rhynchospora careyana , Amphicarpum muehlenbergianum , Pluchea , Ludwigia pilosa , Proserpinaca pectinata , Utricularia radiata , Erigeron vernus , Scutellaria integrifolia , Solidago rotundifolia , Hyptis alata, Centella , Lachnocaulon anceps , plants occasional, 12 May 2016, R. Carter 22660 ( VSC). Terrell Co.: 31.62882°N, 84.52612°W, 0.75 mi N of Terrell-Calhoun county line by Hwy GA 45, along E side of Hwy GA 45, open karst pond with Panicum hemitomon , Cephalanthus occidentalis , Hypericum fasciculatum , Rhynchospora inundata, Isoëtes , plants occasional, in clusters, stem hollow, 11 May 2017, R. Carter 22919 with L. Musselman and C. Taylor ( VSC).