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Scutellaria altamaha Small
Altamaha Skullcap
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: No Georgia state protection
Global Rank: G2G3
State Rank: S2?
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes
SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
2025 SGCN Priority Tier: Highest Conservation Concern
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 6
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Sandy, deciduous woods
Perennial herb with erect, densely hairy, purplish, 4-angled stems, 12 - 25 inches (30 - 65 cm) tall. Its leaves are 1 - 2 inches (2.5 - 5 cm) long and 0.5 - 1.3 inches (1.4 - 3.4 cm) wide, opposite, oval or lance-shaped, hairy, with bluntly pointed tips and finely toothed margins; both surfaces are densely covered with minute glandular dots, the upper surface dull green and nearly hairless, the lower surface pale green with hairy, conspicuous veins; the leaf stalk is absent or very short. Flower clusters are crowded at the top of the stem, and inflorescence bracts do not have stalked glands. The flowers are about 0.5 inch (1.1 - 1.6 cm) long, pale blue, covered with glandular hairs and dots, with an erect tube and two lips; the lower lip is rounded, notched, and down-curved with a large white patch with a purple stripe; the upper lip is larger and hood-like. Inside the flower tube, there is a line of hairs at the bend in the tube near the calyx. Four stamens extend slightly beyond the upper lip, with hairy anthers at the tip. A small green cup (calyx), with a conspicuous bump on the upper side, surrounds the base of the flower and the maturing fruit; it is covered with stalked glands and white, spreading hairs. Fruits consist of 4 tiny nutlets enclosed by the calyx.
Two common skullcaps with hairy stems occur with Scutellaria altamaha.
Hairy Skullcap (Scutellaria elliptica) has longer leaf stalks and non-glandular, coarsely toothed leaves. The bracts in the inflorescence have stalked glands, and the lower lip has a pure white patch without a purple stripe.
Hoary Skullcap (Scutellaria incana) is 24 - 39 inches (60 - 100 cm) tall, with leaf stalks about 0.4 - 1.2 inch (1 - 3 cm) long. Its calyx is covered with white, appressed hairs. The lower lip has a pure white patch without a purple stripe.
Ten species of Scutellaria are rare in Georgia:
Scutellaria altamaha (Altamaha Skullcap) occurs in deciduous woodlands over sandy or rocky soils in southeast Georgia. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=22389
Scutellaria arenicola (Sandhill Skullcap) occurred in sandy scrub in southeast Georgia; it has not been seen in Georgia since 1950. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=18230
Scutellaria drummondii (Drummond's Skullcap) occurs in Black Belt prairies in middle Georgia. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=32153
Scutellaria leonardii (Glade Skullcap) occurs on limestone cedar glades in northwest Georgia. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=16064
Scutellaria mellichampii (Mellichamp’s Skullcap) occurs in mixed hardwood-Spruce Pine forests over high-calcium soils on river bluffs. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=15605
Scutellaria montana (Large-flowered Skullcap) occurs in moist hardwood and hardwood-pine forests with few shrubs in northwest Georgia. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=20397
Scutellaria nervosa (Bottomland Skullcap) occurs in bottomland forests in northwest and lower Piedmont Georgia. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=16063
Scutellaria pseudoserrata (Southern Showy Skullcap) occurs in dry to moist mixed hardwood-pine forests just north of the western Fall Line and in northwest Georgia. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=19755
Scutellaria saxatilis (Rock Skullcap) occurs in rocky forests in the southern Appalachians. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=21356
Scutellaria serrata (Showy Skullcap) occurs in rich forests in the southern Appalachians. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=18063
Hardwood forests on slopes, calcareous bluffs, and ridges in the lower eastern Piedmont and adjacent Coastal Plain.
Altamaha Skullcap is a perennial herb that reproduces sexually by seed. Otherwise, little else is known about its life history. Other skullcap species are typically pollinated by bees; wasps are known to cut holes in the base of some skullcap flower tubes and suck out nectar without carrying out the pollination that bees do. Research on the closely related Scutellaria montana found that species have low seed set and very low pollinator visitation. Fruits are small nutlets that are dispersed by gravity.
Surveys are best conducted during flowering (June–early July).
Georgia and South Carolina.
Clearing, logging, and development on bluffs, slopes, and stream terraces. Erosion and sedimentation from upslope development. Feral hog rooting. Deer browsing. Invasion by exotic pest plants, especially Japanese Honeysuckle, Chinese Privet, and Autumn Olive.
| Threat 1 | Threat 2 | Threat 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Threat | Biological resource use | Human intrusions & disturbance | Natural system modifications |
| Specific Threat | None | None | None |
Scutellaria altamaha is ranked S2? by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, indicating that it is imperiled but that more information is needed before making a definitive ranking. Five populations were documented in Georgia between 1896 and 1959. A 2019 survey failed to locate any of the plants at 4 of these sites. Four new populations of Scutellaria altamaha were found during this survey.
Prevent clearcutting and development on river bluffs and stream terraces. Protect populations from upslope erosion on bluffs and ridges. Eradicate exotic pest species from sites occupied by S. altamaha, including feral hogs, Japanese Honeysuckle, Chinese Privet, and Autumn Olive. Limit the size of Georgia’s deer population. Conduct research on the species' life history, ecological requirements, and reproductive biology.
Bradley, K.A. 2019. Status survey of Scutellaria ocmulgee in southeast Georgia and adjacent South Carolina. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Social Circle, Georgia.
Collins, J.L. 1976. A revision of the annulate Scutellaria (Labiatae). Ph.D. dissertation. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
GADNR. 2020. Element occurrence records for Scutellaria altamaha. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Social Circle, Georgia.
NatureServe. 2020. Scutellaria altamaha species account. NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.159048/Scutellaria_altamaha
Small, J.K. 1898. Studies in the botany of the southern United States, XIII. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 25(3): 134-151. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2477711
Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-Atlantic States. University of North Carolina Herbarium, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm
Linda G. Chafin
L.Chafin, Jan. 2009: original account
D.Weiler, Jan. 2010: added picture
L. Chafin, May 2020: updated original account.
