https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/50706 Archive of the journal Paysonia published by AU Museum of Natural History Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:09:10 GMT 2026-04-11T09:09:10Z https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/50726 Three Noteworthy Vascular Plant Records from Alabama Three vascular plant taxa are documented as new or noteworthy to the flora of Alabama. Astragalus obcordatus, previously unknown from the state, is here substantiated for the first time from Alabama based on a collection made from Dallas County. Eleocharis rostellata and Pilea fontana, formerly represented in the state from one location each are newly reported from Baldwin County and Jackson County, respectively. https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/50726 https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/50725 The Vascular Flora of the Red Hills Forever Wild Tract, Monroe County, Alabama The Red Hills Forever Wild Tract (RHFWT) is a 1785 ha property that was acquired in two purchases by the State of Alabama Forever Wild Program in February and September 2010. The RHFWT is characterized by undulating terrain with steep slopes, loblolly pine plantations, and mixed hardwood floodplain forests. The property lies 125 km southwest of Montgomery, AL and is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with an emphasis on recreational use and habitat management. An intensive floristic study of this area was conducted from January 2011 through June 2015. A total of 533 taxa (527 species) from 323 genera and 120 families were collected with 148 taxa being county records. Asteraceae was the most collected family with 71 species. Poaceae and Fabaceae were the next largest families with 48 and 45 species, respectively. Quercus was the largest genus, represented by 12 species and one named hybrid. Fifty-nine non-native species were collected during the surveys. Plant collections were deposited at the Alabama Natural Heritage Section Herbarium (ALNHS), with duplicates deposited at the Anniston Museum of Natural History Herbarium (AMAL), Jacksonville State University (JSU), and Auburn University Herbarium (AUA). https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/50725 https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/50724 Validation of nrDNA ITS as a DNA barcode for Marshallia (Asteraceae) We examine the utility of nrDNA ITS as a barcode marker in the southeastern endemic wildflower genus Marshallia, sequencing multiple individuals of all species. With the exception of the putative hybrid M. mohrii, all species had a unique ITS sequence and intraspecific variation was very low. Intragenomic polymorphism was also quanti- fied using high-throughput sequencing reads. The ITS data support specific status for the recently described M. legrandii and indicate a relationship between M. trinervia and the federally listed M. mohrii. https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/50724 https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/50723 Vascular Plant Flora of the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, Alabama A survey of the vascular plant flora was conducted at the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center in south-central Alabama. Over 2000 vascular plant specimens were collected from the 2144 ha site comprising 152 families, 498 genera and 1015 species. This represented a density of 47 species/km2 and accounted for 25% of all known vascular plant species from the state of Alabama, highlighting the unusually rich biodiversity of this site. The most diverse plant families in this flora were Asteraceae (132 spp.), Poaceae (108), Fabaceae (74), Cyperaceae (69), and Lamiaceae (24). The most diverse genera in the survey included Carex (23 spp.), Quercus (20), Juncus (15), Cyperus (15), Dichanthelium (14) and Hypericum (14). A total of 133 non-native species were identified (13.1% of the flora) including 22 state-listed invasive species. Rare and threatened species tracked by the ALNHP made up 2.1% (21 species) of the flora and included notable taxa such as Stewartia malacodendron, Hamamelis ovalis, Epidendrum magnoliae, Pityopsis oligantha, Lilaeopsis carolinensis and Stylisma aquatica among others. A brief description of the geology, geography, climate and historical land use of the property is included along with a checklist of taxa. https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/50723