BESSEYA BULLII (Eaton) Rydb.

Besseya, Kitten-tails

 

FAMILY: Scrophulariaceae

SYNONYMS: Wulfenia bullii (Eaton) Barnh.

HABIT: Herbaceous perennial from basil rosette, flowering stalks to 4 dm; flowers May, fruits May-June.

SIMILAR SPECIES: An easily recognized species when in flower. However, the plant spends the first few years of its life as a rosette and is very difficult to recognize at this stage.

TOTAL RANGE: S. MI to MN, s. to OH, IN, IL and IA.

STATE RANGE: The species has only been collected once in Ohio, in 1904 near Dayton (Montgomery County).

STATE STATUS: 1980 to present: Presumed Extirpated.

HABITAT: In sun or semi-shade in well-drained openings such as prairies, pastures, young woods and cliff tops; often in gravel or calcareous substrates.

HAZARDS: Overgrowth by woody species as a result of succession; soil compaction by trampling.

RECOVERY POTENTIAL: Unknown; probably poor. However, the species is known to respond favorably to fire and to mowing and grazing.

INVENTORY GUIDELINES: Collect mature flowering specimens only; leave non-flowing rosettes intact, avoid over-collecting.

COMMENTS: Besseya blooms only for a short time and should be sought in May. By mid-July the flowers have disappeared and only the rosettes are visible. The species should be sought in southwestern and in northwestern Ohio.

SELECTED REFERENCES:

 

Bentz, G.D. and T.S. Cooperrider. 1978. The Scrophulariaceae subfamily Rhinanthoides of Ohio. Castanea 43: 145-154.

Bowles, Marlin. 1984. Report on the status of Wulfenia bullii in Illinois. Morten Arboretum, Lilse, Illinois. Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Chapman, K.A. 1981. Besseya bullii (Eaton) Rydb. Kittentails (Scrophulariaceae) in Michigan. Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Menges, Eric. 1986. Community structure of Wea Creek Gravel Hill Prairie, and population biology of Besseya bullii. Report to the Nature Conservancy.

Pennell, F.W. 1935. The Scrophulariaceae of eastern temperate North America. Acad. Nat. Soc. Philadelphia, Monograph No. 1. 650 pp.

Smith, W. 1982. Report on the status of critical plant species in Minnesota: Besseya bullii. Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Division of Natural Areas and Preserves

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Created: 3/1985 Allison W. Cusick

Revised: 4/1993 Greg Schneider

Database Code: SPNP.979