Auricled Gerardia

Auricled Gerardia, Agalinis auriculata
Photograph by R.H. Wiegand

The beautiful Auricled Gerardia, Agalinis auriculata, is one of many plants in danger of being extirpated, no longer found in the state. Since European colonization, more than 200 species are believed to have been extirpated. The Auricled Gerardia, currently State Endangered, is found in only two populations in the state.

Auricled Gerardia is a hemi-parasite that obtains nutrients from two species of sunflower (Helianthus spp.). It is found on open, seasonally-flooded areas along the Potomac River.

Native plants, animals, and habitats can be the source of products such as medicines, new food crops, and clean water. They also provide places for recreation and intangible values, such as a sense of place and well-being.

Slowing the loss of native species and the habitats in which they live depends upon protecting existing native habitats, adopting progressive  policies on land use planning, and changing lifestyles to consume less land and other natural resources.