Spreading or Appalachian Avens

Geum radiatum
Rosaceae--Rose Family

A rare and endangered Avens of the high mountains of NE Tennessee and NW North Carolina, is a sibling of or conspecific with Mountain Avens, G. peckii,  of NH (also rare). The following is taken from NatureServe OnLine Encyclopedia...

NatureServe Status Global Status: G1 (29Feb2000) Rounded Global Status: G1

Reasons: Only 20 surviving occurrences have been verified and, since the species primarily reproduces vegetatively, there may be fewer than 1000 genets remaining at these sites. 5 of the historically known occurrences have been eliminated and substantial declines in overall population size were documented in the 1980s. The species is found in a highly specialized habitat - mostly on exposed northwest-facing cliffs on the few, isolated mountaintops over 1300 m (4300 ft) in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. At these sites, the plants are exposed to a variety of threats including trampling, rock climbing, ski slope development, acid precipitation, and flower-pickers.
photo July 5, 2004