Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: WATER HYSSOP

Phylum: MAGNOLIOPHYTA

Class: MAGNOLIOPSIDA

SubClass: ASTERIDEA

Order: SCROPHULARIALES

Family: SCROPHULARIACEAE

Genus: MECARDONIA

Species: ACUMINATA

Taxonomic Authority: SM.

Taxonomy References: 001 , 008

Status

STATE RANK S1
GLOBAL RANK G5

Status References: 002

Habitat Summary

"Marshes, savannahs, alluvial woods, low roadsides, floodplain forests, and cypress depressions *006,005,004*."

Primary Habitat: ""

References: 004 , 006 , 009

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

""

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BUTLER DUNKLIN
CARTER JASPER
HOWELL MISSISSIPPI
OREGON RIPLEY
STODDARD
WAYNE

References for distribution: 003 , 009

Distribution by Watersheds

St. John's Ditch and Blue Ditch
St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Little R.
Black R.
Current R.
Warm Fork Spring R. and South Fork
Eleven Point R.
Spring R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Cedar Glades
Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark
Ozark: Springfield Plateau
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands
Mississippi Lowlands: Crowley's Ridge
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Terrestrial" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Aquatic Associations:

"Palustrine", "Emergent"
"Riverine, upper perennial", "Rocky shore"

References for Aquatic Associations:

Habitat Types:

Wooded Riparian and Bottomland Hardwood
Marsh
See Comments
Savanna (Grass-Shrub)

References for Habitat Types: 003 , 004 , 005 , 006 , 009

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Forest
Wet Bottomland Forest
Flatwoods
Savanna
Streambed
Sand Bar Streambed
Gravel Wash Streambed
Wetland
Marshes
Pond Marsh

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 003 , 004 , 005 , 006 , 009

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

""

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements:

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for resting juvenile niche requirements:

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

References for feeding Adult niche requirements:

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

References for feeding adult niche requirements:

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

References for resting adult niche requirements:

Niche Requirement Summary

Life History Information

Winter persistence of above-ground stem:semi-deciduous
Winter persistence of above-ground stem:see comments(043)
Duration of plant:perennial
Life form:herb
Flowering period begins: July
Flowering period begins: see comments(048)
Flowering period ends: October
Flowering period ends: see comments(049)
Origin in state: native
Closely associated plant or animal species specified in comments(003)

References for life history: 004 , 005 , 006 , 007

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Maintain roadside vegetation
Agricultural - maintain riparian habitats
Agricultural - haying/mowing
Agricultural - disk crop fields
Forest - maintain riparian habitats

Beneficial Management References: 003

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Unpb The PLANTS Database, database (version 5.1.1). 2000. National Plant Data Center, NRCS, USDA. Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. http://plants.usda.gov.htm Mecardonia acuminata.
002 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
003 Unpb Missouri Department Of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102. 573-751-4115.
004 Godfrey, R.K. and J.W. Wooten. 1979. Aquatic and wetland plants of the southeastern United States: Monocotyledons. The University of Georgia Press: Athens. 712pp.
005 Unpb Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. Mecardonia acuminata. Http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/1999/neflor/species.htm. 8711 37th Street SE, Jamestown, ND 58401. 701-253-5500.
006 Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles, and C.R. Bell. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. 1183pp.
007 Unpb Illinois Plant Information Network. Mecardonia acuminata. Http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/delaware/ilpin. Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820.
008 Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas. 1392pp.
009 Unpb Flora Of Missouri Database. G. Yatskievych, Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, Mo 63166-0299. 314-577-9522.