Southern Appalachian Beebalm

Appearance

Its morphology is compared to that of M. clinopodia, the species with which it has been confused, and to M. fistulosa, its hypothesized sister species.

Distribution

Monarda austroappalachiana is endemic to limited areas of northern Georgia, southwest North Carolina (no specimens cited), southeast Tennessee.

Habitat

This species grows in talus slopes, open woodland, road edges, and steep rocky slopes in sub-xeric habitats with reduced competition from other forbs or woody plants. It most frequently grows in the Walden Creek geologic formation, a calcareous phyllite.