The Lady Slipper newsletter, and now blog, of the Kentucky Native Plant Society has been published since the Society’s founding in 1986. We occasionally feature an article from a past issue. In the following article from 2012, Longtime KNPS board member, David Taylor, discusses the genus Phemeranthus, the Fame-flowers. This article ran in Vol. 27, No. 1. If you would like to see these and other past issues, visit the Lady Slipper Archives, where all issues from Vol. 1, February 1986 to Vol. 40, 2025, can be found.
The Fame-flowers of Kentucky
by David Taylor, US Forest Service
Fame-flowers belong to the genus Phemeranthus, a small group of succulent herbs in the Purslane family (Portulacaceae). This family also contains spring beauty and the weedy introduced purslane. Although the genus Phemeranthus was proposed by Rafinesque in 1814, members of the genus were largely placed in the closely related genus Talinum (Kiger 2001). Even J.K. Small (1933, p. 493-494), infamous for segregate genera and families (to his credit, many now recognized) did not recognize Phemeranthus. Research in the 1980s through the early 2000s has supported the separation of Phemeranthus from Talinum on the basis of leaf shape, capsule dehiscence and structure, seed surface texture, and molecular data (Kiger 2003a, 2001).. In some treatments (e.g., Nyffeler et al. 2008) Phemeranthus is placed in the Montiaceae which includes Claytonia (spring beauty), Montia (minerslettuce), and Lewisia (pussytoes or lewisia) among others. Talinum is now considered to be largely an Old World genus (Nyffler et al. 2008, Kiger 2003b). Two species considered native are known from the U.S, one of which, T. paniculatum, is found in Jefferson County, Kentucky (USDA NRCS 2012).
The 25-30 species in the genus Phemeranthus are known as fame-flowers. This name is derived from the flowering habit of the genus. The showy flowers open more or less together for a few hours in the afternoon then close–a few hours of fame. The genus name means ‘ephemeral flower,’ alluding to the short time flowers are open during the day. They are found in North, Central and South America. Sixteen species are known in the U.S. (Kiger 2003a), most of which are distributed in the prairie and southwestern states. A recently described species, P. piedmontanus, piedmont fame-flower (Ware 2011), brings the number to seventeen. A few are found in the Pacific Northwest. Four species, P. calcaricus, P. mengesii, P. piedmontanus, and P. teretifolius are mostly southeastern species. One prairie species, P. parviflorus, has an outlying presence in Alabama (USDA NRCS 2012). Two species, P. calcaricus, limestone fame-flower, and P. teretifolius, quill fame-flower, are known from Kentucky (Jones 2005).
Limestone fame-flower, restricted to Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, is positively known from only one location in Kentucky (Simpson County). Another location (Logan County) has been reported but has not been relocated (KSNPC 2011). It is considered endangered in Kentucky and only marginally secure range wide (fewer than 100 populations known). As the common and scientific names suggest, this species is a calciphile (calcium-loving) found on limestone glades. Ware and Pinion (1990) determined that this species is adapted to limestone and fairs poorly on acid sites. In this environment it grows in shallow soils that pass through wet and dry spells during the growing season. This like other fame-flowers is strongly dependent on seed production for maintaining a population. The plants can be long lived, but are subject to herbivory and trampling. Seeds provide assurance plants will occupy the site.
This species is 5 to 25 cm (2 – 10 in) tall. The stem is somewhat weak and fleshy. The alternate, more or less round leaves of the largest plants are about 5 cm (2 in) long and 6.5 mm (1/4 in) wide at the widest. The dark green leaves like the stems are fleshy. Leaves are usually tightly packed on the stems. The plant grows from a tuberous rhizome. Flowers are borne on 10 – 15 cm (4 – 6 in) stems (peduncles) that overtop the leaves. The flowers are a rosy purple or fuchsia, with 5 petals and 25-45 yellow stamens. Each petal is about 1 cm (0.4 in ) long to make a flower about 2.5 cm (1 in) across. Only one or two flowers on a single peduncle bloom on a single day. The flowers open between 12:00 pm and 3:30 pm, depending on location (Ware 1993, Ware 1967) and close before sunset, lasting only one day. A single large plant may produce one hundred or so flowers over the course of the summer. The capsules are papery and thin. Each contains around 10-25 small grayish seeds. Portions of the stem some-times root creating new plants (Ware 1969).
Limestone fame-flower flowers beginning in May and continues into September. It is an excellent pollen plant and is visited by many species of bees. Some native plant nurseries sell this plant, which does well in a garden if given well-drained soil. Please do not collect this plant from the wild. It is endangered in Kentucky and rare throughout its range, with many of the populations threatened by urban expansion and grazing. Its habitat is also fragile, the plants grow slowly from seed, and the plants are easily damaged.
This species is 5 to 50 cm (2 – 20 in) tall. The stem is somewhat weak and fleshy. The alternate, more or less round leaves are 3 – 6 cm (1.2 – 2.4 in) long and 4 mm (1/6 in) wide at the widest. The dark green leaves like the stems are fleshy. Leaves are usually tightly packed on the stems. Flowers are borne on long stems (peduncles) that overtop the leaves. The flowers are a rosy purple or fuchsia, with 5 petals and 12-20 yellow stamens. Each petal is 5 – 7 mm (0.2 – 0.3 in ) long to make a flower about 19 mm (3/4 in) across. Only one or two flowers on a single penduncle bloom on a single day. Observations by the author in McCreary County in 2011 indicate the flowers open about 3 pm EDT and close before sunset but Ware (1993) reports an opening time of 12:00 CDT. Like those of limestone fame-flower, the flowers last only one day. A single large plant may produce one hundred or so flowers over the course of a season. The capsules are papery and thin. Each contains around 20-50 tiny black or brown seeds. Portions of the stem, and possibly leaves, sometimes root-creating new plants. Harshberber (1897) suggests the somewhat ball-like plants may roll when broken helping to spread asexual propagules.
Quillwort fame-flower is more widespread, occurring from Pennsylvania to Alabama and Georgia. It is known from several sites in McCreary and Pulaski Counties, but a recent survey suggests that many of those sites are gone or in serious trouble from habitat changes (Tara Littlefield, pers. com.). It is considered endangered in Kentucky but largely secure range wide. The common name and scientific name allude to the slightly angled, quill-like leaves. This species unlike limestone fame-flower is found on sandstone, granite or serpentine outcrops. Ware and Pinion (1990) determined that the species is adapted to sandstone and granite faring poorly on limestone sites. While stunted on serpentine, it does survive and remains healthy. It grows in areas of shallow dry soil that are seasonally wet. Such wet periods allow the germination of seeds. It frequently grows in mats of mosses such as Hedwigia ciliata which help to retain moisture after a rain. Nonetheless, for seedlings, the moss mats can be deadly if their roots do not penetrate to soil before drying (Ware 1967).
Quill fame-flower flowers beginning in April and continues into October. It is an excellent pollen plant and is visited by many species of bees. Some native plant nurseries sell this plant, which does well in a garden if given well-drained soil. Please do not collect this plant from the wild. Not only is it a rare species in Kentucky, but its thick fleshy roots make transplanting difficult, the succulent plant is easily damaged, it grows slowly from seed, and its habitat is fragile.
Flowering in these two species and others investigated (P. mengesii, P. rugospermus) appears to be controlled by what is known as an endogenous circadian rhythm (Ware 1993). This can be called a daily internal clock. While the full mechanism is not known, and it does not follow the pattern of typical endogenous circadian rhythms, a similar rhythm is known from other members of the Portulacaeae (Ware 1993). This can be observed in the folding of purslane leaves at night and their unfolding in the morning.
Both of these species are derived from other species based on molecular and morphological data. Limestone fame-flower is related to P. calycinus, large-flowered fame-flower, which is a mid-western/southwestern species. It appears to have evolved from an autotetraploid (a doubling of chromosomes through failure of meiosis occurring within gametes of the same species fusing to create embryos) of large-flowered fame-flower (Murdy and Carter 2001, Kiger 2003a). Limestone fame-flower occurs east of large-flowered fame-flower except for an individual or two that might occur in one Arkansas site with the latter. It is morphologically similar to P. mengesii, but it occurs on limestone only while the latter is found on sandstone, and granite (Ware 1967).
Quill fame-flower is an allopolyploid (increased number of chromosomes through failure of meiosis occurring within gametes of different species fusing to create embryos) derived from P. parviflorus, sunbright, a midwestern species, and P. mengesii, Menge’s fame-flower, which is southeastern in its distribution (Murdy and Carter 2001, Kiger 2003a). Quill fame-flower out competes both species where they occur with it (Murdy and Carter 2011), and has a larger range in the southeast than sunbright, and a larger range than Menge’s fame-flower. Piedmont fame-flower may also have been derived from Menge’s fame-flower. This may in part be to the wide variation in sexual and asexual reproductive characteristics exhibited by Menge’s fame-flower (Carter and Murdy 1986).
References
Carter, M.E.B, and W.H. Murdy. 1986. Divergence for sexual and asexual reproductive characters in Talinummengesii (Portulacaceae). Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 113:259-267.
Harshberber, J.W. 1897. An ecological study of the genus Talinum with descriptions of two species. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 24:178-188.
Jones, R.L. 2005. Plant life of Kentucky: an illustrated guide to the vascular flora. University Press of Kentucky. Lexington, KY. 834 p.
Kiger, R.W. 2001. New combinations in Phemeranthus Rafinesque (Portulacaceae). Novon 11:319-321.
Kiger, R.W. 2003a. Phemeranthus. Pp. 488-495. In: Flora of North America. 2003. Flora of North America Editorial Committee. Vol. 4, Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1. Oxford University Press. New York, Oxford. 559 p. Available at http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=124954.
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Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. 2011. County report of endangered, threatened, and special concern plants, animals, and natural communities of Kentucky. Dated November 2011. Available at http://naturepreserves.ky.gov/pubs/publications/ksnpc_countylisthabitat.pdf. Accessed 9 February 2012.
Littlefield, Tara. Personal Communication. August 2011. Botanist, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission.
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USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2012. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data
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Ware, S. 1967. A new Talinum species (Portulaceae) from the cedar glades of Middle Tennessee. Rhodora 69:466-475.
Ware, S. 1969. Ecological role of Talinum (Portulacaceae) in cedar glade vegetation. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 96:163- 75.
Ware, S. 1993. Control of daily flowering time in Talinum (Portucaceae). J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 68:119-121.
Ware, S. 2011. A new Phemeranthus (Portulacaceae) from the Piedmont of Virginia and North Carolina. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 5:1-7.
Ware, S. and G. Pinion. 1990. Substrate adaptation in rock outcrop plants: Eastern United States Talinum (Portulacaceae). Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 117:284-290.