Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Smooth Coneflower for Review and Comment

Özet

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability for public review of a technical/agency draft recovery plan for smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata). This rare perennial herb grows in open woods, cedar barrens, roadsides, clearcuts, dry limestone bluffs, utility line rights-of-way, and other sunny to semi- sunny situations, usually on magnesium- and calcium-rich soils, in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Formerly, it probably occurred in prairielike habitats or post oak-blackjack oak savannas maintained by fires caused by lightning or set by native Americans. Loss of this open habitat to fire suppression and urbanization has resulted in the decline of the species and its reduction to marginal and very vulnerable sites. Historically, 61 populations were reported from eight states. The species now survives at only 23 of those locations, in four states. The Service solicits review and comment from the public on this draft plan.