Some plants and animals are generalists. They live in a variety of habitats. Others are specialists, persisting only where very specific conditions occur.

The federally endangered American chaffseed ranks among the latter. Schwalbea americana needs open pine forests or savannas, undisturbed soil and frequent fires, especially during the growing season. With fewer than 35 small populations reported in Georgia, this plant most often occurs in the ecotone or habitat transition zone between upland forests and wetlands.

Which is why the recent discovery of chaffseed at Doerun Pitcherplant Bog Natural Area near Moultrie is classic and exciting evidence for habitat management.

The state acquired the 650 acres from the Barber family in 1996. The family had effectively used dormantseason controlled burns to manage the rich bog habitats. Yet not until two cycles of growing- or lightning-season fires, in 2006 and this year, did the elusive chaffseed show itself, emerging from the ashes of a burn done in June. While looking for rare plants at Doerun in mid-September, naturalist Wilson Baker of Tallahassee found the perennial herb tucked away on a mesic, or moderately moist, slope beside a narrow creek drain.

Mike Harris, Nongame Conservation Section chief for the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, said the discovery confirms "the importance of prescribed fire in ecotones for restoring special coastal Coastal Plain habitat."

In Georgia's Coastal Plain, the transitional zone between upland pine forests and wetlands is often the most diverse habitat for plants, Harris said.

Restoring fire-adapted habitats such as longleaf pine forest and pitcherplant bogs, as well as promoting the controlled burning these ecosystems need, are priorities in the Georgia Wildlife Action Plan. The comprehensive strategy guides Wildlife Resources and state Department of Natural Resources efforts to conserve biological diversity.

Chaffseed is a member of the Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae). It is a hemiparasite, attaching to the roots of host plants for part of its life cycle. Common host plants for chaffseed include silk grass or grassleaf goldenaster (Pityopsis graminifolia) and gallberry (Ilex glabra).

This perennial herb generally grows 1 to 2 feet tall and flowers approximately one month after a fire. The most vigorous response follows warm or growing season fires during late May through June. But coolseason fires can also promote appropriate conditions.

Each plant usually has several stems emanating from the base. Inconspicuous flowers, attractive in an understated way, point upward. The tubular flowers have longitudinal purple stripes separated by creamy white. Minute hairs cover the plant, accounting for its fuzzy appearance.

Several of the 35 or so chaffseed populations reported in the state cannot be relocated. Most that can are on well-managed quail plantations in southwest Georgia. The larger populations are found on longleaf pine sites that have been burned repeatedly in the summer months. One example is the Wade Tract in Thomas County, which contains hundreds of individual plants growing under a stand of oldgrowth longleaf pine.

Doerun Pitcherplant Bog Natural Area, about three miles south of the town of Doerun on Ga. 133, sports the first documented chaffseed on state-owned land. Continued prescribed fire will perpetuate it and other herbs and grasses, including the site's many carnivorous pitcherplants, Nongame Conservation botanist Tom Patrick said.

The prospect of increased plant diversity at Doerun, including more rare species such as chaffseed and purple honeycomb head (Balduina atropurpurea), is exciting for Baker.

"We're anxious to see (what is found) after the next burn," he said.

Management of natural areas is an example of the conservation work supported by nongame license plate sales and the Give Wildlife a Chance state income tax checkoff. Both benefit Wildlife Resources' Nongame Conservation Section, which receives no state funds for its mission to conserve wildlife not legally hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as rare plants and natural habitats in the state.

The license plates - featuring a bald eagle or a ruby-throated hummingbird - are available for a one-time $25 fee at county tag offices, by checking the wildlife license plate box on mail-in registrations and through online renewals (http:// mvd.dor.ga.gov/tags).

For the checkoff, fill in an amount more than $1 on line 26 of the long state income tax form (Form 500) or line 10 of the short form (Form 500EZ). Contributions can be deducted from refunds or added to payments. About American chaffseed

.. Chaffseed is a member of the Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae).

.. The plant is federally and statelisted as endangered.

.. Chaffseed is a hemiparasite, attaching to the roots of host plants for part of its life cycle.

.. A perennial herb, chaffseed generally grows 1 to 2 feet tall and flowers approximately one month after a fire.

.. The most vigorous response follows warm or growing season fires during late May through June. But cool-season fires can also promote appropriate conditions.

.. Plants usually have several stems emanating from the base. Inconspicuous flowers, attractive in an understated way, point upward. Each tubular flower has longitudinal purple stripes separated by creamy white. Minute hairs cover the plant, accounting for its fuzzy appearance.

.. Some of the larger chaffseed populations in Georgia are found on longleaf pine sites that have been burned repeatedly in the summer months. One example is the Wade Tract in Thomas County, which contains hundreds of individual plants growing under a stand of old-growth longleaf pine.

.. About 35 small populations of chaffseed are reported in the state, but several cannot be relocated and most extant occurrences are on wellmanaged quail plantations in southwest Georgia.

.. Habitat management including prescribed fire is credited with the recovery of bog plants such as pitcherplants and the control of invasive Chinese privet at Doerun Pitcherplant Bog Natural Area.