| Chelone | |
|---|---|
| Chelone glabra | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Chelone |
| Genera | |
|
C. cuthbertii |
|
Chelone is a genus of four[1] species of perennial herbaceous plants native to eastern North America.[1][2] They all have similarly shaped flowers (which lead to the name turtlehead due to their resemblance to the head of a turtle), which vary in color from white to red, purple or pink.[1] C. cuthbertii, C. glabra, and C. lyonii are diploid and C. obliqua is either tetraploid or hexaploid.[1]
The closest relatives of Chelone are Chionophila and Nothochelone from western North America.[1] It is also more closely related to Collinsia than to other members of the family such as snapdragons, plantains, and foxglove.[3]
C. glabra is the most widely distributed species of the genus: from Georgia to Newfoundland and from Mississippi to Manitoba;[4] the other three are found in more restricted areas.
C. lyonii is found in the Blue Ridge of Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.[1]
C. cuthbertii is found in two areas: the Blue Ridge of North Carolina and the coastal plain of Virginia.[1]
C. obliqua is found as tetraploids in the Blue Ridge, or hexaploids in two areas: Tennessee to Arkansas and Michigan, or the Atlantic coastal plain from South Carolina to Maryland.[1]
The relationship between the different populations is complicated and it appears that C. obliqua in fact has arisen several times from diploid ancestors of the other three species.[1] The four species seem to have diverged recently.[1]