Britton's Beargrass

Nolina brittoniana

Description

Britton's beargrass is a perennial that grows from a short, thick, fleshy, bulblike rootstock. The leaves are 3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m) long and 0.2-0.5 in (5-12 mm) wide, forming a rosette with the youngest leaves upright and the oldest lying nearly flat on the ground. The flowering stem, usually solitary, grows at least 6 ft (1.8 m) high from the rosette in April. The inflorescence is a panicle with about six branches; when in bloom, the branches are covered with small white six-parted flowers, making the plant very conspicuous. Individual plants usually appear to have all male or all female flowers.

The fruits are symmetrical; triangular in cross-section. The plants bear abundant seed, which is easily germinated, and the plant is not difficult to propagate. In the natural setting, this species occurs as scattered specimens, and rarely (if ever) forms large colonies.

Habitat

Britton's beargrass occurs in dry upland communities. In central Florida, it occurs in scrub, high pine, and intermediate "turkey oak barrens." In the northwestern part of the state, it inhabits the coastal scrub community.

Distribution

Britton's beargrass is found from the south end of the Lake Wales Ridge in Highlands County north to Orange County near Orlando and northern Lake County. An apparently isolated locality was reported from Hernando County, north of Tampa. On the Lake Wales Ridge, N. brittoniana occurs in most of the tracts that are targeted for acquisition by the State of Florida or the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Historical records indicate this plant also occurred in the northwest corner of Osceola County.

Threats

This species is being displaced by the conversion of high pine and scrub communities to agricultural and residential land-uses. It is also coming under pressure from property taxation that favors agriculture. The species is also at intrinsic risk associated with the potential of catastrophic disturbance (e.g., a hurricane or severe wildfire) of its small, isolated populations.

Conservation and Recovery

Britton's beargrass is an endangered species, a designation that protects it from harvesting and commercial trade. However, its critical habitat is not specifically protected by its endangered status. Most of its remnant habitat is privately owned, and is threatened by ongoing conversions to agricultural and residential land-uses. Conservation of this rare plant requires that its largest, most natural critical habitats be protected. This could be done by purchasing the land and designating ecological reserves, or by negotiating conservation easements with the landowners. The populations of Britton's beargrass should be monitored, and research undertaken into its biology and habitat needs, with the aim of developing management practices appropriate to maintaining or enhancing the quality of its habitat.

Contacts

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Regional Office, Divison of Endangered Species
1875 Century Blvd., Suite 200
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
Phone: 404-679-4000
http://southeast.fws.gov/

Wildlife and Habitat Management Office
6620 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 310
Jacksonville, Florida 32216-0958
Phone: 904-232-2580
Fax: 904-232-2404

Reference

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 27 April 1993. "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Endangered or Threatened Status for Seven Central Florida Plants." Federal Register 58 (79): 25746-25755.