Assessment of Genetic Health and Reproductive Biology of the Rare Pyrularia pubera (Buffalo nut)

The buffalo nut (Pyrularia pubera Michx.; Cervantesiaceae) is an unusual, dioecious (male or female) small forest tree that is able to grow on its own, or more often, as a root parasite of other plants. Native to the Appalachian mountain range, the buffalo nut is at its northern-most limit in western Pennsylvania, where it was formerly reputed to be common, but now is listed as rare. Only two populations are in protected areas, one at Powdermill Nature Reserve and one at Ohiopyle State Park. This study aspired to establish whether or not remaining populations are comprised of different individuals or mostly clones, the degree of genetic variation among remaining Pennsylvania populations, and how the Pennsylvania populations relate to the closest remaining populations in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. In addition, the effectiveness of sexual reproduction in remaining populations was explored.

WRCP

WRCP

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Carnegie Institute