Purple false foxglove

Agalinis is a combination of the word Aga from the Doric Greek meaning “very” and the Latin word linum, meaning “flax”. The plant is so named because it somewhat resembles flax. The term fasciculata means clustered in Latin. This is describing the clustered way in which the leaves are attached to the stem.

As is often the case, there are many common names for Agalinis fasciculata. Some of these are also used to describe its’ close relatives- Agalinis tennufolia and Agalinis auriculata. Some of the common names for Agalnis fasciculata are Purple false foxglove, Clustered false foxglove, Fasicled false foxglove, Tall false foxglove, and Beach false foxglove. This plant may also be referred to as gerardia since they were once classified in the gerardia genus, which is no longer in use.

Each tubular flower resembles a beautifully painted urn. Depending on the light, the color may be described as pink, lavender or purple.

Individual flowers arise from short stalks and are up to an inch long. Each plant has many flowers blooming simultaneously with flowering beginning at the lower portion of the plant proceeding upward. Each flower has five lobes- two upper, two side and one lower. Each lobe is tipped with many fine, whitish hairs that give the flower a soft, woolly appearance.

Within the corolla, purple dots are arranged on two yellow nectar guides (also known as floral or pollen guides). These guides invite and lead pollinators to the pollen and nectar. The anthers are yellowish and the prominent style is white. A profusion of fine purple hairs protects the anthers and upper portion of the style. The outside of the tube is a bit lighter in color and may be dotted with light purple 'freckles'.

Each flower lasts just one day. In late afternoon the corola detaches and floats to the ground. It's not uncommon to see a dangling corolla, still in perfect shape before it falls.

Agalinis fasciculata is an annual wildflower growing up to 3 or 4 ft tall. The stems are stout, but a heavy rain may cause the plant to lean toward the ground, especially when laden with many flowers.

Tufts of short, slender leaves are whorled along the angled stem. A tuft or bundle of leaves is termed a fascicle in botany, which is referenced in the species name (fasciculata). The stem is fuzzy with short hairs.

After flowering, the plants are covered with beautiful gold to copper tinted beed-like seed pods.

All plants in the Agalinis genus are hemiparasitic. Hemiparasitic plants obtain some nutrients and moisture from a host plant. How do they do this? They have modified roots termed 'haustoria'. These swollen root structures form an underground connection to their host plant. Through this connection, the plant can obtain water and mineral nutrients. Being hemiparasitic, they retain the ability to photosynthesize on their own. Agalinis species are hemiparasitic with graminoides (meaning grasses, sedges and rushes). We often have droughts in late summer and the Agalinis don't wilt as significantly as many plants because they can obtain some water through their host.

Purple false foxglove supports multiple species of pollinators. It's a pleasure to sit and watch the action. At any time, one is likely to see butterflies, skippers, bees, syrphid flies or beetles. The photographs below show some examples of the many insect visitors to these beautiful flowers.

The preferred habitat of Purple false foxglove is dry to mesic prairies and woodland edges. The plants tend to grow in loose colonies.

There is very little information on Agalinis fasciculata on Natureserve. It shows its range to be from Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas eastward to the coast, but there is no data for the vast majority of the states. It is considered Vulnerable in 2 states (Kansas and New Jersey) and Apparently Secure in Kentucky and Indiana. In Delaware it's considered Possibly Extirpated. All other states within its known range show No Status Rank.

In Arkansas, this plant has a Conservation value of 4 in the group of 4-7 (Typically matrix taxa in intact, stable habitats, with some limited ability to respond to destabilizing forces and repopulate areas from which they have been extirpated).

Agalinis fasciculata is a host plant for the Common Buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia). In early September, I see many of its caterpillars chowing down on the leaves of this plant. Take a look at this video that showcases one of these hungry caterpillars.

The Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) is absolutely one of our most beautiful butterflies!