Features: The American Columbo (Frasera caroliniensis ) is a long-lived perennial in the Gentian family that produces tall, distinctive spikes of flowers that are green-yellow with purple specks. It grows in a wide range of conditions but prefers partly shaded slopes in deciduous forest, where it puts down a long, thick taproot and establishes itself for up to seven years before it sends up a flower spike and then dies.

Status: Endangered Provincially and Nationally

Range: The American Columbo ranges across east-central North America from Pennsylvania and New York south to Oklahoma, and west of the Appalachians. In Ontario, it is known from less than ten sites in the southwestern part of the province. Range Maps

Threats: Likely never common in this province, American Columbo probably declined as forests were cleared and slopes eroded. Current threats are displacement by invasive exotic plants and development activities.

Protection: Approximately half of the populations occur in protected areas (provincial parks, conservation areas and nature sanctuaries); portions of two populations are along powerline right-of-ways where an active program of rare plant protection is underway, and they appear to be doing well; the rest are on private property. The American Columbo is listed in regulation under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007, which protects the species. It is also protected under the federal Species at Risk Act.

Text Sources: SARA 2008; Smith, Rothfels and Oberndorfer 2006; Crins and Sharp 1993

Last Modified Date: October 2008