Tennessee Native Plant Society
Native Plant of the Month
October, 2007
Southern Fernleaf False Foxglove
Aureolaria pectinata
Another common name of this genus is "oak leech" which refers to the fact that these plants are
semi-parasitic on the roots of oak trees. Therefore, these plants are routinely found at the edges of
woodlands that are dominated by oaks, usually dry upland forests. The leaves are deeply lobed and
toothed, giving the species a fernlike appearance. The tubular yellow flowers are around 1.5 inches
long and an inch wide, with two rusty red stripes in the throat. The entire plant is covered in glands
which excrete a sticky resin. This wildflower can be found blooming in late summer through fall.
