Agalinis densiflora

Agalinis densiflora, commonly known as Osage agalinis, Osage false foxglove, Osage Plains false foxglove, or fine-leaf hairy-foxglove, is a species of flowering plant in the family Orobanchaceae. It is an annual herb endemic to the south-central United States, where it occurs in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Description

Agalinis densiflora is an annual herb growing up to about tall. It produces pink to lavender flowers with red spots in the throat. Flowering occurs from August to October. The fruit is a capsule.

Taxonomy

Agalinis densiflora was originally described as Gerardia densiflora by George Bentham in 1835. It was later transferred to Agalinis by Sidney Fay Blake in 1918, giving the accepted combination Agalinis densiflora (Benth.) S.F.Blake. Although older sources placed the taxon in Scrophulariaceae, modern treatments place it in Orobanchaceae.

Synonyms include Gerardia densiflora, Otophylla densiflora, Tomanthera densiflora, and Otophylla drummondii.

Distribution and habitat

Agalinis densiflora is endemic to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

It grows in prairies, dry limestone areas, grassy roadsides, pastures, and well-drained calcareous soils.

Conservation

NatureServe ranks Agalinis densiflora as , indicating that it is globally vulnerable. The rank was last reviewed on 7 April 2025. The species is ranked N3 in the United States and S2 in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. NatureServe estimates about 41 occurrences rangewide and lists potential threats including development, conversion to pasture, oil development, rights-of-way maintenance, invasive species, and severe overgrazing of grassland habitat. The species has no status under the United States Endangered Species Act.

References

densiflora Category:Endemic flora of the United States Category:Plants described in 1835 Category:Taxa named by George Bentham