Rhododendron austrinum - (Small) Rehd.
Taxonomic Comments: (=Azalea austrina). Can hybridize with canescens.
Reasons: Regional endemic; pressure on habitat. Locally common in northern FL, rare in GA, AL, and MS.
Range Extent Comments: Regional endemic. Fla. panhandle, w of Leon Co. (10 cos.), s Ala. (9 Cos.), sw Ga. (3+ cos.), se Miss. (3 cos.). See Judd for latest range information.
Number of Occurrences Comments: Based on range and habitat. MSNHP RANKS AS S2S3; GANHP RANKS AS S2; FLNHP RANKS AS S3; Ala. ??.
Overall Threat Impact Comments: Highly threatened by land-use conversion, habitat fragmentation, and forest management practices (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002). Factors include conversion of habitat to pine plantations (can tolerate moderate intensity logging), pasture or row crops and, over-collecting.
Global Range: Regional endemic. Fla. panhandle, w of Leon Co. (10 cos.), s Ala. (9 Cos.), sw Ga. (3+ cos.), se Miss. (3 cos.). See Judd for latest range information.
Habitat Comments: Moist acidic sandy soils, prim. in shaded ravines & in wet bottomlands on rises of sandy alluvium or older terraces.