{"assessment":{"band":"Strong","factor_identity":{"basis":"approved shared identity","growth_habit_source":"USDA PLANTS","name_used":"Vernonia acaulis"},"factor_scopes":{"bees":"Southeastern North America","birds":"North America","caterpillars":"Host genera of native Lepidoptera with established South Carolina range; association and range overlap, not confirmed local feeding.","specialists":"Eastern North America","structure":"USDA species growth habit where matched; otherwise sourced atlas growth habit"},"factors":{"applied_insect_credit":0,"baseline_score":75,"composite":0.819,"insect_support":{"credit":0,"groups":{"ants":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Ants","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"beetles":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Beetles","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"flies":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Flies","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"moths_butterflies":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Adult butterflies / moths","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"other_hymenoptera":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Other wasps","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"other_insects":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Other insects","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"}},"interpretation":"One provisional point per additional documented insect group, capped at five. Flower visits are a resource-use proxy, not confirmed feeding or pollination. Missing evidence is unknown. Study volume and repeated records earn no extra credit.","maximum_credit":5,"version":"insect-support-1"},"pct":{"bees":0.9739454094292804,"birds":0.303970223325062,"caterpillars":0.8815136476426799,"specialists":0.978287841191067,"structure":0.5},"rank_pct":0.816,"raw":{"bees":46,"birds":0,"caterpillars":24,"genus_used":null,"specialists":9,"structure":["Forb/herb"]}},"fit_score":null,"native_basis":"native_inferred","rarity_adjustment":0,"rarity_policy":"Conservation status is displayed separately and never changes ecological scores, including when unranked.","reason":"Calculated with the shared rules using South Carolina host-range and shared ecological evidence.","reference":"NC native reference cohort, method 0.6.4; not a South Carolina percentile","score":75,"scoring_inputs":{"harm_penalty":0,"invasive":false,"invasive_rank":null,"native":true,"state_rank":""},"source_ids":["lep_sc","globi","bigbee","avian","usdahabit","robertson","antseed"],"status":"scored_provisional","version":"shared-0.6.5"},"condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:42bf5882a757a683b4e5bc5c5c872372206b6244e05d74417dfa9b4434d9786a","levels":[2,3,4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[2,4],"scope":null,"semantics":"source_light_categories_preserved_without_hour_conversion","source_field":"light","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:74cfd42bb031c8cfec81f1f08e52ab58db13c0fc5ef08a56bd535f97f963ff79","levels":[1,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[1,3],"scope":null,"semantics":"source_drainage_or_moisture_categories_preserved","source_field":"soil_drainage","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"evidence":{"fit_score":null,"growth_habit":["Forb/herb"],"invasive_status":{"status":"unresolved"},"native_status":{"status":"native_inferred"},"occurrence":{"county_fips":["45001","45007","45015","45017","45019","45025","45027","45029","45031","45033","45035","45037","45041","45043","45047","45055","45057","45061","45063","45065","45067","45069","45071","45079","45081","45091"],"meaning":"Recorded occurrence; not a county native-range assertion"},"quercus_score":null,"regional":{"county_fips":["45001","45007","45015","45017","45019","45025","45027","45029","45031","45033","45035","45037","45041","45043","45047","45055","45057","45061","45063","45065","45067","45069","45071","45079","45081","45091"],"growth_habit":null,"growth_habit_source":null,"invasive":null,"invasive_evidence":[],"invasive_rank":null,"native":true,"native_basis":"usda_l48_and_nc_flora_without_atlas_flag","native_evidence":[{"claim":"unknown","matched_name":"Vernonia acaulis","scope":"TN-KY","source":"tnky_atlas","url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/4768"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Vernonia acaulis","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"L48:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Vernonia acaulis","scope":"NC","source":"nc_flora","url":"https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/"}],"native_status":"native_inferred","source_ids":["sernec:104763"],"source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","source_refs":["SC-checklist-2.html","sernec_county"],"source_url":"https://sernecportal.org/portal/checklists/checklist.php?pagenumber=2&clid=3141&dynclid=0&pid=84&searchsynonyms=1","state_rank":null},"source_refs":["SC-checklist-2.html","sernec_county"],"source_url":"https://sernecportal.org/portal/checklists/checklist.php?pagenumber=2&clid=3141&dynclid=0&pid=84&searchsynonyms=1","state_rank":{"value":null}},"fit_inputs":{"light":[2,4],"moisture":[1,3],"ph":null},"fit_provenance":{"counties":"USDA PLANTS: recorded in 24 NC counties","light":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","moisture":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox"},"fit_record":{"band":"Strong","condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:42bf5882a757a683b4e5bc5c5c872372206b6244e05d74417dfa9b4434d9786a","levels":[2,3,4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[2,4],"scope":null,"semantics":"source_light_categories_preserved_without_hour_conversion","source_field":"light","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:74cfd42bb031c8cfec81f1f08e52ab58db13c0fc5ef08a56bd535f97f963ff79","levels":[1,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[1,3],"scope":null,"semantics":"source_drainage_or_moisture_categories_preserved","source_field":"soil_drainage","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"county_fips":["13051","13073","13287","37001","37007","37017","37031","37037","37047","37051","37079","37085","37093","37101","37105","37123","37125","37135","37151","37153","37155","37159","37163","37165","37167","37179","37191","45001","45007","45015","45017","45019","45025","45027","45029","45031","45033","45035","45037","45041","45043","45047","45055","45057","45061","45063","45065","45067","45069","45071","45079","45081","45091"],"fit_inputs":{"light":[2,4],"moisture":[1,3],"ph":null},"fit_note":"Shared sunlight, moisture and pH calculation; county geography is an additional layer. Missing source traits remain unknown.","fit_provenance":{"counties":"USDA PLANTS: recorded in 24 NC counties","light":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","moisture":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed"},"invasive_rank":false,"native_eligible":true,"quercus_score":75,"state":"SC"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed"},"growing_observations":{"extension":{"identity_basis":"Exact genus/species fields on cached page","matched_name":"Vernonia acaulis","retrieved":"2026-09-30T15:20:00.777921+00:00","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_sha256":"2667d10f0248c253a8c520c36d3f74a26890d9a3f08cd6a35aec40cf61c7e18c","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","values":{"bloom_season":["Summer"],"flower_color":["Pink","Purple/Lavender"],"height_feet":[0.5,4],"leaf_habit":["Deciduous"],"life_cycle":["Perennial"],"light":["Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)","Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)"],"moisture_categories":["Moist","Occasionally Dry"],"nc_regions":["Coastal","Piedmont"],"soil_drainage":["Good Drainage","Moist","Occasionally Dry"],"width_feet":[1,3]}},"floraquest_carolinas_georgia":{"matched_name":"Vernonia acaulis","retrieved":"2026-10-04T13:31:16.252589+00:00","scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"scope_note":"Original regional ecological and identification evidence; no location-specific gardening adjustments.","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","source_record_id":6562,"source_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","trait_evidence":[{"field":"habitat_description","source_column":"HabitatText","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6562,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Longleaf pine flatwoods, moist ecotones, and moister sandhill situations, in the Piedmont in dry rocky woodlands, hardpan woodlands, bluffs, and barrens."},{"field":"geographic_range_description","source_column":"Description","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6562,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont of ne. and nc. North Carolina south to sc. Georgia (Thomas and Grady counties). The single apparent record from Florida is a collection listed from Polk County (P.O. Schallert 880) with no additional locality information. The specimen is indeed V. acaulis , but it is likely that the locality information of this specimen was not assigned correctly. Schallert notoriously misapplied specimen numbers and localities to the wrong collections, and given the disparate collection localities and chronological disorder adjacent to this collection (in addition to far disjunction), we consider the c. Florida record to be in error. The specimen of Schallerts could literally have been collected from anywhere in the southeastern US based upon his other collections."},{"field":"phenology_source_text","source_column":"Phenology","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6562,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Late Jun-Aug; Aug-Oct."},{"field":"taxonomic_synonymy","source_column":"Synonymy","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6562,"source_table":"Organism","value":"[= Fl7, FNA19, K1, K4, NS, POWO, RAB, S, SE1, WH3]"},{"field":"heliophily_index","source_column":"HIndex","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6562,"source_table":"Organism","value":8},{"field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_column":"Attr2","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6562,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Dry","Moist","Wet"]},{"field":"habitat_light_categories","source_column":"Attr3","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6562,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Partial shade","Full sun"]},{"field":"graphic_key_source_attributes","source_column":"Attr0..25","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6562,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":{"Attr0":"gr08","Attr1":"nc_cp,nc_pd,sc_cp,sc_pd,ga_cp,ga_pd,","Attr10":"to","Attr11":"dk","Attr13":"pi,pur","Attr14":"bris,scal","Attr2":"Dry,Moist,Wet","Attr3":"Part,Sun","Attr3a":"y","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_cp:y,native_nc_pd:y,native_sc_cp:y,native_sc_pd:y,native_ga_cp:y,native_ga_pd:y,","Attr4":" 6-9","Attr5":"gl,pu","Attr6":"n","Attr7":"y","Attr8":"alt","Attr9":"si"}}],"values":{"geographic_range_description":"Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont of ne. and nc. North Carolina south to sc. Georgia (Thomas and Grady counties). The single apparent record from Florida is a collection listed from Polk County (P.O. Schallert 880) with no additional locality information. The specimen is indeed V. acaulis , but it is likely that the locality information of this specimen was not assigned correctly. Schallert notoriously misapplied specimen numbers and localities to the wrong collections, and given the disparate collection localities and chronological disorder adjacent to this collection (in addition to far disjunction), we consider the c. Florida record to be in error. The specimen of Schallerts could literally have been collected from anywhere in the southeastern US based upon his other collections.","graphic_key_source_attributes":{"Attr0":"gr08","Attr1":"nc_cp,nc_pd,sc_cp,sc_pd,ga_cp,ga_pd,","Attr10":"to","Attr11":"dk","Attr13":"pi,pur","Attr14":"bris,scal","Attr2":"Dry,Moist,Wet","Attr3":"Part,Sun","Attr3a":"y","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_cp:y,native_nc_pd:y,native_sc_cp:y,native_sc_pd:y,native_ga_cp:y,native_ga_pd:y,","Attr4":" 6-9","Attr5":"gl,pu","Attr6":"n","Attr7":"y","Attr8":"alt","Attr9":"si"},"habitat_description":"Longleaf pine flatwoods, moist ecotones, and moister sandhill situations, in the Piedmont in dry rocky woodlands, hardpan woodlands, bluffs, and barrens.","habitat_light_categories":["Partial shade","Full sun"],"habitat_moisture_categories":["Dry","Moist","Wet"],"heliophily_index":8,"phenology_source_text":"Late Jun-Aug; Aug-Oct.","taxonomic_synonymy":"[= Fl7, FNA19, K1, K4, NS, POWO, RAB, S, SE1, WH3]"}},"ncsu_sitemap":{"matched_name":"Vernonia acaulis","retrieved":"2026-10-04T02:47:45.904066+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Source-reported species characteristics; not a location-specific estimate.","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_sha256":"0cbe1e23d35db2d65f7211b66e5248222b7aa53a491a8409922417ea59280521","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","trait_evidence":[{"expected_source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","field":"spread_description","original_field":"spread","record_id":"trait:08540b2780e227aae8fcbba2b83af709312fded1e3097f080ea9c433d7870437","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:47:45.904066+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"ncsu","source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","source_sha256":"0cbe1e23d35db2d65f7211b66e5248222b7aa53a491a8409922417ea59280521","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:6f5c5a2f-55a5-5b0c-b3e8-c89be90cdacf","value":{"max":3,"min":1,"unit":"feet"}},{"expected_source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","field":"height_description","original_field":"height","record_id":"trait:18b6afcc9fa9a5a414e23f3dc3d81cb5d160f090d728cc6936f6465705a5d7be","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:47:45.904066+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"ncsu","source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","source_sha256":"0cbe1e23d35db2d65f7211b66e5248222b7aa53a491a8409922417ea59280521","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:6f5c5a2f-55a5-5b0c-b3e8-c89be90cdacf","value":{"max":4,"min":0.5,"unit":"feet"}},{"expected_source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","field":"light","original_field":"light","record_id":"trait:599c313ace9d4f5ee7fc2bb33fbc84662a22cad1013acaba3c07a2fe3c14ccce","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:47:45.904066+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"ncsu","source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","source_sha256":"0cbe1e23d35db2d65f7211b66e5248222b7aa53a491a8409922417ea59280521","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:6f5c5a2f-55a5-5b0c-b3e8-c89be90cdacf","value":["Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)","Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)"]},{"expected_source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","field":"leaf_habit","original_field":"leaf_habit","record_id":"trait:6b3d24e0e07a8cd4d50083ba3f63fcbdbc840cfa7bec9b4d5a9fa56b57371cf6","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:47:45.904066+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"ncsu","source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","source_sha256":"0cbe1e23d35db2d65f7211b66e5248222b7aa53a491a8409922417ea59280521","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:6f5c5a2f-55a5-5b0c-b3e8-c89be90cdacf","value":["Deciduous"]},{"expected_source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","field":"moisture_categories","original_field":"soil_moisture","record_id":"trait:c5a189c0ba0e6e73df0ee76971db5d7260f78c13b4fb3c475af0e46537705dc4","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:47:45.904066+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"ncsu","source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","source_sha256":"0cbe1e23d35db2d65f7211b66e5248222b7aa53a491a8409922417ea59280521","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:6f5c5a2f-55a5-5b0c-b3e8-c89be90cdacf","value":["Moist","Occasionally Dry"]},{"expected_source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","field":"flower_color","original_field":"flower_color","record_id":"trait:cf70944b61e6a4d3743140b119bc61e17615ab3e8f3de8cf84a6290b369b9f29","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:47:45.904066+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"ncsu","source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","source_sha256":"0cbe1e23d35db2d65f7211b66e5248222b7aa53a491a8409922417ea59280521","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:6f5c5a2f-55a5-5b0c-b3e8-c89be90cdacf","value":["Pink","Purple/Lavender"]},{"expected_source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","field":"life_cycle","original_field":"life_cycle","record_id":"trait:d06558605edee10141cf94c66dda25f1f78ea7473ba13ed67625d9ec3d60e688","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:47:45.904066+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"ncsu","source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","source_sha256":"0cbe1e23d35db2d65f7211b66e5248222b7aa53a491a8409922417ea59280521","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/vernonia-acaulis/","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:6f5c5a2f-55a5-5b0c-b3e8-c89be90cdacf","value":["Perennial"]}],"values":{"flower_color":["Pink","Purple/Lavender"],"height_description":"0.5–4 feet","leaf_habit":["Deciduous"],"life_cycle":["Perennial"],"light":["Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)","Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)"],"moisture_categories":["Moist","Occasionally Dry"],"spread_description":"1–3 feet"}}},"light_range":["part shade","full sun"],"light_source":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","native_synthesis":{"claims":[{"claim":"unknown","matched_name":"Vernonia acaulis","scope":"TN-KY","source":"tnky_atlas","url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/4768"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Vernonia acaulis","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"L48:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Vernonia acaulis","scope":"NC","source":"nc_flora","url":"https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/"}],"county_native_range":"unresolved","explanation":"Source scopes are preserved. State occurrence alone does not establish nativity; combined regional evidence is labeled estimated.","label":"Native to South Carolina (estimated from combined sources)","rule":"southeast-native-synthesis-1","status":"native_inferred"},"source_name":"Vernonia acaulis","taxon_id":"taxon:6f5c5a2f-55a5-5b0c-b3e8-c89be90cdacf","revision":"publish:5809c037-0e9a-430a-8008-5ab6f69800c0","photos":[{"id":"inat-153213168","src":"/api/photos/image/a7398f13a61e71215c7ee026336f963683761ee8a2712e6883d7873822738ba5.jpg","view":"bloom","alt":"Vernonia acaulis — flower photograph","width":375,"height":500,"artist":"Becky Dill","license":"CC0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/","source_url":"https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/153213168","changes":"iNaturalist medium image; no additional crop, retouching, or re-encoding."}]}