GroundPlum

Astargalus Caryocarpus (commonly known as Ground-Plum) is a genus of Ajuga (1) in the Legume family.(2) The species was discovered by Milo Pyne in 1988 (3) in Tennessee (1) and is a rare strain of another Tennessee plant life known as Central Basin (3). The flower itself weighs ten millimeters while the fruit weighs twice that amount (twenty millimeters) per piece (4). It is known in few natural locations, including the Flat Rock Cedar Glade (5) and the Ames High Prairie.

There is evidence of the Ground-Plum, existing in the Ames High Prairie. Firstly, the Ames High Prairie is a great place for the Ground-Plum to exist because it was classified as an endangered species over a decade ago (it is explained below) and, since the Prairie is a nature preserve, it is a good place for the plant to thrive. Though little is known about the plant’s biology and life cycle, it is known to blossom during the spring and fall while the fruits mature during June, which are good times in a Midwest state such as Iowa. Finally, I have a recent picture of the flower itself shortly after fall began, which is another time when the flower blooms.



As it was mentioned, this plant had been an endangered species for many years which is associated with the original naturally occurring habitats being close to the ever-increasing and populated city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. With that population, comes more buildings, pollution, compose dumping and development then the species could handle thus shortening its population greatly. Now, hopefully, in preserved habitats, the Ground Plum can return to its former glory. (1)(3)

REFERENCES/LINKS: (1): http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/plants_and_algae/Astragalus_bibullatus/more_info.html#reference_2 (a basic template of the Ground-Plum’s history) (2): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_culinary_fruits#Rosaceae_family – (where you can find the Ground-Plum and other fruits like its fruit strain.) (3): http://www.fws.gov/cookeville/docs/endspec/pynessa.html - (a detailed biography about the Ground-Plum, its endangerment, some of its population (4) http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/okwild/groundplum.html - (basic information and a couple of pictures of the Ground-Plum). (5) http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H330.htm - (more basic and background information on the Ground-Plum)