American Chaffseed

Schwalbea americana, commonly known as American chaffseed, is the sole species currently classified in the genus Schwalbea. It is an erect, hemiparasitic, perennial herb in the family Orobanchaceae. It is native to the southeastern and Atlantic coastal United States where it is found in wet acidic grasslands. This species has declined tremendously from its historical range due to fire suppression, development and collection, and it is currently listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.