Lophiola is a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants native to eastern North America. It has variously been placed in the Liliaceae, the Haemodoraceae, the Tecophilaeaceae or the Nartheciaceae.Govaerts, R., Wilkin, P. & Saunders, R.M.K. (2007). World Checklist of Dioscoreales. Yams and their allies: 1-65. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.Ker Gawler, John Bellenden 1813. Botanical Magazine 39: plate 1596 and 2 subsequent text pages full-page color illustration by Sydenham Edwards, descriptions in Latin and English
Lophiola aurea Ker Gawl. - southeastern United States from Louisiana to North Carolina; also isolated populations in Delaware, New Jersey, and Nova ScotiaBONAP (Biota of North America Program) 2013 county distribution map, Lophiola aurea
Fernald (1921)Fernald, M. L. 1921. The Gray Herbarium expedition to Nova Scotia, 1920. Rhodora 23: 153–171, 223–245. recommended recognizing three species, separating the Nova Scotia populations as L. septentrionalis and the New Jersey-Delaware material as L. americana. More recent investigations, however, have suggested that the group be regarded as one species.Zavada, M., Zu X. L., and J. M. Edwards. 1983. On the taxonomic status of Lophiola aurea Ker-Gawler. Rhodora 85: 73–81
Lophiola aurea is found in wet locations at elevations less than 100 m. It is a perennial herb up to 90 cm tall, spreading by means of underground rhizomes. It has yellow flowers about 10 mm across, and dry capsules about 4 mm in diameter.Gleason, H. A. & A.J. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada (ed. 2) i–910. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx.Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida i–x, 1–806. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Goldencrest is a common name.
References