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white screwstem

Scientific Name: Bartonia verna

Family: Gentianaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual

Other Names:

       

White Screwstem (Bartonia verna)

Bartonia verna, commonly known as White Screwstem, is a delicate wildflower found in specific habitats. It's also referred to as Spring Bartonia and White Bartonia.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant is described as having a "threadlike stem," which may present a minor hazard if ingested, particularly for small animals.

Considerations for Children

  • White Screwstem has "scalelike leaves less than 1/4&quot long," which could be a potential choking hazard for very young children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Bartonia verna (Michx.) Raf. ex Bart.
  • Family: Gentianaceae
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • The plant is classified within Angiosperms and Eudicots.
  • Synonyms and related species mentioned include:
    • Bartonia paniculata (Twining Screwstem)
    • Bartonia texana (Texas Screwstem)
    • Bartonia virginica (Yellow Screwstem)

Distribution and Habitat

  • White Screwstem is native to Texas and other states.
  • It is found in wet flatwoods and bogs throughout much of Florida.
  • It prefers habitats like bogs and moist roadsides.
  • Specific locations mentioned include Juno Dunes Natural Area and Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Florida.
  • The species has been documented in Maine and Alabama.

Morphological Characteristics

  • White Screwstem is an annual or biennial forb/herb (a non-woody plant that is not a grass).
  • It is often inconspicuous.
  • The plant produces one or more quarter-inch (6 mm) white flowers on a thin stem.
  • It has opposite, scalelike leaves less than 1/4 inch long.
  • Flowers are small, 2.5 to 4 mm, white.

Ecological Role

  • Twining screwstem is considered to possibly be a saprophytic mycotroph.

Quirky Facts

  • White Screwstem, although not the Early Gentian itself, is also known as False Pixie.
  • The text mentions that the plant is "hard to see!" and that one database entry for it is currently incomplete, possibly because it's such a rare and inconspicuous plant.

Further Information

  • Wikimedia Commons hosts media related to Bartonia verna.