venus flytrap


Dr. Jon M. Stucky - Professor
Species biology of rare
plants and wetland ecology


Research Interests:

I am committed to the conservation of biodiversity. My major research focuses on one aspect of biodiversity, conservation of rare plant populations. The broad goal of the work conducted by me and my students, both graduate and undergraduate, is to develop knowledge of the biological characteristics of rare plant species that will inform efforts to conserve these species. The particular work conducted with individual species depends on the perceived threats to its conservation; therefore, the goals of my various projects have varied considerably. For example, we have recently determined that ineffective insect pollination is one of several mechanisms that nearly totally preclude seed production in rough leaf loosestrife, a federally endangered species. Given this knowledge, we recommended that consideration be given to planting a thoroughly pollinated species of loosestrife with mitigation plantings of rough leaf loosestrife in hopes that insects will also visit it. Another study examined survivorship and growth of spring-flowering goldenrod, a state endangered species, on soils varying in wetness in the Croatan National Forest. Despite the fact that this goldenrod is an obligate wetland species, its survivorship was negligible on the wettest soil. Survivorship and growth were maximized on drier soils. These results will inform the selection of a mitigation site for transplanting this species from a large population that will be severely impacted by a highway construction project. Another project nearing completion involves determining whether or not seed production and fitness in small populations of smooth coneflower, federally endangered, is less than that in the single large population in North Carolina. Preliminary results suggest that seeds from small populations are equal in number per head and in fitness to those from the large population. This suggests that mechanisms other than pollination limitation are more threatening to small populations of this species.

I am also involved with floristic projects. A recent study compared the soils and flora of a conserved savanna with those features of neighboring savannas. Results showed that the flora and soils of the conserved savanna are unique. Another study in the early stages of development is designed to describe the flora, soils, and plant community types of a Coastal Plain environmental education center and to provide educational materials relating to the flora and communities for the center’s use in its educational programs.

Selected Publications:

Stucky, J.M., L.E. Gadd, and C. Arellano.  2012.  Pollination biology and seed production of a federally endangered perennial, Echinacea laevigata[Asteraceae:Heliantheae].  Amer. Midl. Natur.  In Press.

Dimick, B.P., J.M. Stucky, W. Wall, M.J. Vepraskas, T.R. Wentworth, and C. Arellano. 2010. Plant-soil-hydrology relationships in three Carolina bays in Bladen County, North Carolina, USA.  Castanea.  75(4): 407-420.

Gregory, C., R. Braham, G. Blank and J. Stucky. 2010. Habitat and Search Criteria of the Rare Sandhills Lily, Lilium pyrophilum (M.W. Skinner and Sorrie). Castanea 75(2): 198-204.

Elam, C.E., J.M. Stucky, T.R. Wentworth, and J.D. Gregory. 2009. Flora, plant communities, and soils of a significant natural area in the Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain (Craven County, North Carolina). Castanea 74(1): 53-77.

Peters, M, D. Thomas, J. Stucky, and J. Xiang. 2007. Genetic analyses of the federally endangered Echinacea laevigata using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) – Inferences in population genetic structure and mating system. In Press. Conservation Genetics.

Masson, R. and J. M. Stucky.  2007.  Lotus unifolioliatus var. helleri phenology and response to simulated mowing. Jour. NC Acad. Sci. 124: 6-10.

Fleming, M. M., J. M. Stucky, and C. Brownie.  2007.  Effects and importance of soil wetness and neighbor vegetation on Solidago verna M. A. Curtis ex Torrey & A. Gray (spring-flowering goldenrod)/ /[Asteraceae] transplant survivorship and growth. Castanea. 72: 205-213.

Vidra, R.L., T.H. Shear, and J.M. Stucky. 2007.  Effects of vegetation removal on native understory recovery in an exotic-rich forest. Jour. Torr. Bot. Soc. 134: 410-419.

Smith, T.A., D.L. Osmond, C.E. Moorman, J.M. Stucky, J.W. Gilliam. 2007. Effects of vegetation management on bird habitat in riparian buffer zones. Southeastern Naturalist 7:277-288.

Franklin, M. A., J. M. Stucky, T. R. Wentworth, C. Brownie, and T. Roulston.  2006.  Limitations to fruit and seed production by Lysimachia asperulifolia Poir. (Primulaceae), a rare plant species of the Carolinas. Jour. Torrey Bot. Soc. 133(3): 403 - 411.

Stucky, J.M., U. Subramaniam, and M. McCullen.  2006.  Plant identification keys for undergraduate students.  Jour. N.C. Acad. Sci. 122(3): 125 – 131.

Stucky, J.M.  2006. Character tables for families of the non-arboreal, spring-flowering flora of the eastern Piedmont of North Carolina.  Vulpia 5:41-51.


Stucky, J.M. and E.C. Swab. 2005. Winter keys to common, wetland, trees, shrubs, and woody vines of the North Carolina Coastal Plain. Vulpia 4:68-93.

Shelingoski, S., R.J. LeBlond, J.M. Stucky, & T.R. Wentworth. 2005. Flora and soils of Wells Savannah, an example of a unique savanna type. Castanea 70 (2): 101-114.

Nesom, G. and J.M. Stucky. 2004. Taxonomy of the Liatris pilosa (Graminifolia) complex (Asteraceaae: Eupatorieae). Sida 21(2): 815-826.

Stucky, J.M. 2003. Winter twig keys to common, native, fully deciduous trees and phanerophyte shrubs of the North Carolina eastern Piedmont. Vulpia 2:23-42.

Stucky, J.M. 2002. Key to families and genera of native and naturalized, winter- and spring-flowering herbs, vines, and shrubs of the Raleigh area. Vulpia 1:1-22.


Bostick, G., Van Dyke, G., and  Stucky, J. 2000. Enhancing a Plant Biology Learning Environment.  NACTA Journal. 44(4):12-16.

Tompkins, R. D. and J.M. Stucky. 2000. Microhabitat study of Lotus unifoliatus var. helleri:  Microdistribution, associated species, and potential effects of roadside mowing.  Castanea.  65 (3): 213-220.

Stucky, J.M. and  R. Coxe. 1999.  The loss of a unique wetland in the Piedmont, North Carolina. Castanea 64(4): 287-298.

Stucky, J.M., H.D. Patti, and T.H. Shear. 1999. Regression equations for estimating Ilex opaca biomass components. Castanea 64(4): 350-354.

Stucky, J.M. 1992. Liatris virgata (Asteraceae) in the south-eastern United States. Sida 15(2): 177-183.

Stucky, J.M. 1991. Affinities between Liatris cokeri Pyne & Stucky (Asteraceae), a sandhills endemic of the Carolinas, and its widely distributed relative, L.  graminifolia Willd. Am. Midl. Nat. 125:323-330

Pyne, M. and J.M. Stucky. 1990. Lectotypification of Laciniaria carinata Small. Sida 14(2):209- 213

Stucky, J.M. and M. Pyne. 1990. A new species of Liatris (Asteraceae) from the Carolina sandhills. Sida 14(2):189-208