Help Find Flame Flower

By BRIANNA JAMISON

Commonly referred to as flame flower or hummingbird flower, Macranthera flammea is a state-threatened, herbaceous plant known from the southeastern Coastal Plain of the U.S. But DNR needs your help in learning more about where this species is found in Georgia. Here’s a Q&A to guide this rare-plant scavenger hunt.

Toothed and deep-lobed leaves on a tall-growing plant (Scott Ward/Special to DNR)

What Does It Look Like?

Flame flower is the only species in its genus and looks like no other plant in the state! Macranthera flammea is a biennial, meaning that it has a two-year life cycle. It germinates and grows in its first year. During the second year, it flowers, sets seed and dies. Flowering plants can be 5-10 feet tall and are found from late August through September.

Flame flower leaves are larger at the bottom of the stem (3-7 inches long) and arranged opposite on the stem. The leaves are deeply lobed and toothed. The flower clusters (a paniculate inflorescence) grow up to 2 feet long. Flowers are as much as 1 inch long, with tubular, bright orange petals. Four stamens extend well beyond the opening of the flower. The stem is square-shaped and erect.

Flame flower in full bloom (Lisa Kruse/DNR)

Where Can You Find It?

The short answer: Coastal Plain wetlands. This species requires habitat with adequate moisture. The plant typically occurs on the margins of these wet habitats, in the transition zone between pine uplands and seepage bogs, streamside thickets or cypress-gum ponds. Flame flower can even tolerate shallow flooding for short periods of time.

Why Is It Rare?

Fire is an essential part of Coastal Plain pine savannas and occurred historically at 1- to 2-year intervals. Mimicking the natural fire regime with prescribed burns is important in preserving the seepage and bog communities indigenous to these areas, including those that support Macranthera flammea. Fire suppression and the creation of firebreaks in wetland ecotones have threatened the species’ viability by increasing competition and canopy cover, which reduce the plant’s ability to thrive. Land changes that alter streams and wetlands also reduce suitable habitat.

Buffering streams and seeps from development, timber and agriculture can help ensure the safety of Macranthera flammea by preserving its natural environment and keeping harmful chemicals, such as herbicides and pesticides, out of watersheds.

What Is Its Conservation Status?

Flame flower is state-protected in Georgia, where it’s listed as threatened. The species is also a high priority for conservation in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan. DNR considers Macranthera flammea as most likely critically imperiled in the state. But more data is necessary to make a definitive ranking. This is where you come in!

How Can I Help?

Flame flower is declining on publicly owned properties, and DNR needs the help of private landowners to help better understand this rare plant. If you own naturally wooded property in Georgia’s Coastal Plain (roughly south of the Fall Line, from Augusta to Macon and Columbus), flame flower could be on your land. Please keep an eye out for it. All Georgians are reminded, too, that this species needs to stay in the wild. Don’t remove plants or parts of them: seeds, flowers or roots. Flame flower depends on relationships with neighboring plants and won’t survive outside of its habitat.

If you spot flame flower, please let DNR know. Photos of a flower, the whole plant and the immediate habitat where the plant is found are welcomed (as are notes with additional details)! Send photos, information and questions to DNR senior botanist Lisa Kruse at Lisa.Kruse@dnr.ga.gov. For more information, call (706) 557-3213.

Your data will be used to help DNR biologists better understand how Macranthera flammea is doing in Georgia. Given the threats posed by habitat loss, climate change, invasive plants, fire regime alterations and other factors, that information can be critical to conserving and restoring this species!

Note: DNR promotes ethical monitoring of rare plants with landowner permission. Please botanize responsibly.

Macranthera flammea in the field (Alan Cressler)

Top: Flame flowers (Alan Cressler)