Frasaria carolinensis
Carolina/American Columbo
Monocarpic species, are species that often store up energy in a basal rosette or an upright rosette form, gathering tons of energy over the years before finally sending up a large inflorescence called a mast inflorescence dazzled in showy nectar rich flowers. Agave spp. are often the typical grouping we hear about doing this, some palms, and even some cycads were known to put on a show like this. All monocarpic species bloom once, produce fruit once, then in a transient display, die. Theoretically some agave are moisture and size dependent, meaning if you keep them dehydrated each regular bloom period they can live for centuries longer than they are supposed to. Agave are in the Asparagaceae, a monocot lineage, and so are palms in the Arecaceae; entirely unrelated is this species in the gentian family. Monocarpic masting species in this sense, have evolved this reproduction strategy in their overall phenology, many separate times making this concept also overlap in the idea of convergent evolution of phenological traits. Reproductive example associations can be seen between Orchidaceae and two subfamilies in Apocynaceae with the formation of pollinia pollen sacs and translators. Other examples often occur and are used as examples like in trap producing species Nepenthaceae and Sarraceniaceae which both use protease and modified leaves associated with carnivory, entirely unrelated families.
Unlike many members of the gentian family in the midwest, this species is known from dry upland flat woods and savanna like woodlands, instead of rich mesic woods, fens, and bogs. A few gentian members in the midwest are associated with dry prairies and barrens.
