| Aristolochia serpentaria |
| Virginia snakeroot |
Key Characteristics
Low arching forb (50 cm) of floodplain forests; leaves narrowly heart-shaped; flowers dark purple, tubular, borne near ground on leafless stalks.
Status and Rank
- State Status: T - Threatened (legally protected)
- State Rank: S2 - Imperiled
- Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure
Occurrences
| County Name | Number of Occurrences | Year Last Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Berrien | 3 | 1980 |
| Branch | 1 | 1980 |
| Cass | 4 | 2005 |
| Kent | 2 | 1985 |
| Lenawee | 2 | 1984 |
| St. Joseph | 2 | 1981 |
| Van Buren | 1 | 1906 |
| Washtenaw | 3 | 2008 |
| Wayne | 2 | 2003 |
![Occurrence Map for [Sname]](/mnfi/maptmp/NFR_Distributions12590210895420.png)
Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.
Habitat
This plant occurs in a variety of habitat, usually in dry-mesic forests above streams or wetlands, but can also be found at the edge of floodplain forests at the base of terrace slopes and in rich mesic woods.
Natural Community Types
Associated Plants
Red oak, pignut and shagbark hickory, sassafras, Virginia creeper, hepatica, jumpseed, woodland goldenrod, sweet cicely, tulip tree, redbud, wild geranium, hepatica, prickly-ash, poison ivy, hairy yellow violet, big leaf aster, mayapple, silver maple, Eastern cottonwood, willow, red ash, red mulberry, spicebush, wild ginger, green dragon, and nodding wild onion.
Management
Management in this habitat type that may impact this species is poorly known. The species may be vulnerable to excessive logging, and is likely adversely affected by invasive species establishment.
General Survey Guidelines
Random meander search covers areas that appear likely to have rare taxa, based on habitat and the judgment of the investigator.
Survey Methods
- Meander search
Survey Period: From first week of July to fourth week of August
Survey Comments: Somewhat obscure, straggling vine
More Information
See MNFI Species AbstractReferences
Survey References
- Elzinga, C.L., D.W. Salzer, and J.W. Willoughby. 1998. Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations. The Nature Conservancy and Bureau of Land Management, Denver. BLM Technical Reference 1730-1. 477pp.
- Goff, G.F., G.A. Dawson, and J.J. Rochow. 1982. Site examination for Threatened and Endangered plant species. Environmental Management 6(4): 307-316
- Nelson, J.R. 1984. Rare Plant Field Survey Guidelines. In: J.P. Smith and R. York. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 3rd Ed. California Native Plant Society, Berkeley. 174pp.
- Nelson, J.R. 1986. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques For Impact Assessment. Natural Areas Journal 5(3):18-30.
- Nelson, J.R. 1987. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques for Impact Assessment. In: Conservation and management of rare and endangered plants. Ed. T.S. Elias. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 8pp.
Technical References
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 1997. Flora of North America, North of Mexico. Volume 3: Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Oxford University Press, New York. 590pp.
- Gleason, H. A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second edition. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 910pp.
- Gray, A. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany; eighth ed. Van Nostrand Reinghold, New York. 1632pp.
- Holmgren, N.H. 1998. Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the vascular plants of Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 937pp.
- Voss, E. G. 1985. Michigan Flora. Part II. Dicots (Saururaceae-Cornaceae). Bulletin of the Cranbrook Institute of Science and University of Michigan Herbarium. 724pp.