''Dicerandra immaculata'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common names Lakela's mint, Olga's mint, and spotless balm. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

in the United States, where it is known only from Indian River and St. Lucie Counties. There are seven occurrences of the plant, two of which are scheduled for destruction as the land is cleared for development.USFWS
''Dicerandra immaculata'' Five-year Review.
September 2008. The plant was federally listed as an

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...

in 1985.USFWS
Determination of endangered status for ''Dicerandra immaculata'' (Lakela's mint).
''Federal Register'' May 15, 1985. This is an aromatic perennial

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

growing up to about half a meter tall, with several erect stems emerging from a woody-topped taproot. The narrow leaves are up to 3 centimeters long by 4 millimeters wide. The herbage is mint-scented. 1 to 3 flowers occur in the leaf axils. The flower is purplish pink in color and lacks the spots that those of many other ''Dicerandra'' have. The throat of the flower is tubular and not bent. The anthers of the flowers have tiny spurs that act as triggers, causing the flower to release

pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...

when an insect arrives.''Dicerandra immaculata''.
Center for Plant Conservation. There are two varieties of this plant, with var. ''savannarum'' having been described in 2001. It has wider leaves and more limp branches than var. ''immaculata''.Huck, R. B. (2001)
Two new infraspecific taxa in Florida ''Dicerandra'' (Labiatae).
''Novon'' 11:4 417-20. This plant grows in white- and yellow-sand Florida scrub

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

. It can be found in openings and slightly shady areas where the wind or

wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire ...

has cleared a partial or total space in the canopy. This habitat is becoming ever more rare today as it is consumed for development; Florida's population is growing rapidly. Several known populations of this plant have been destroyed in the process. Remaining tracts of land are very fragmented. There are not many predators that tolerate the strong oils of this mint, so herbivory is not a serious problem. Mildew affects the flowers sometimes, however, causing fruit destruction.

Invasive plant species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

that threaten the habitat include Brazilian pepper (''Schinus terebinthifolius''),

rosary pea ''Abrus precatorius'', commonly known as jequirity bean or rosary pea, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. It is a slender, perennial climber with long, pinnate-leafleted leaves that twines around trees, shrubs, and hedge ...

(''Abrus precatorius''),

Natal grass ''Melinis repens'' is a species of grass known by the common names rose Natal grass, Natal red top, or simply Natal grass. It is native to southern Africa and an introduced species, often considered a noxious weed, on other continents such as N ...

(''Rhynchelytrum repens''), and Guinea grass (''Panicum maximum''). Some new populations of the species have been planted in areas that are protected, even though they are outside the known historical range of the plant.

References

External links

USDA Plants Profile
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5272385

immaculata The Immaculate Conception is the belief that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception. It is one of the four Mariology, Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church, meaning that it is held to be a divinely reveal ...

Endemic flora of Florida