Chorizanthe valida

This photo is provided by calphotos.berkeley.edu

This plant is called the Chorizanthe valida, or mostly known as the Sonoma Spine flower. This flower is native to California. This plant was thought to be extinct, but in 1992, they were found once again at Point Reyes National Seashore. It’s habitat is usually at costal frontdunes and costal duneshrub communities. They like to grow in a higher elevation at around 40ft. It is an erect, shaggy-haired herb with rose, lavender, or white colors, getting wider towards the tip. They like to grow in sandy soil in costal areas. They grow seeds on their spines, making animals the most important factor on how the seeds get dispersed through the habitat.

The Sonoma Spineflower is rare and endangered. Thought to be extinct until the early 1990s, the plant has been known as an endangered species since it has been found. One of the main reasons for the endangerment for this plant is because of disturbances near or on the plant. This plant is extremely vulnerable to disturbances. They usually are killed by hikers and animals stepping on them. The Point Reyes National Seashore issues special permits to ranchers for dairy and beef operations. Soon the cattle began grazing and trampling the flowers. Even if the cattle didn’t trample them, the disturbance in the area would still affect the plant negatively. Also if the cattle didn’t graze, the new plants would take over the soil and it would cause the plant to die off from lack of nutrients. They are also competing with alien plants, which usually take control over the nutrients and the area where the plant resides, causing them to die off. Another reason for their endangerment is residential development. Many people move into these habitats and destroy their homes, causing many plants to die.
Because of the endangerment of the Sonoma Spineflower, there have been people trying to help get their numbers back up. They have most of the population in control at Point Reyes National Seashore. The The California Native Plant Society watches these plants with a close eye, checking in how they are growing and how much the population is increasing, but they do not check on an annual basis. In 1988, they found seeds and planted the, into three separate containers, watching how they grow and develop. This experiment was a success and it created a pathway to the long term survival of this beautiful plant.

Reference
“Sonoma Spineflower.” Beacham’s Guide to the Endangered Species of North America. Ed. Walton Beacham, Frank V. Castronova, and Suzanne Sessine. Vol. 5: Dicots. Detroit: Gale, 2000. 2818-2820. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.

Agalinis Acuta

Agalinis Acuta, commonly known as Sandplain Gerardia, is an annual wildflower with pink or purple bell-shaped flowers, light green stems, and a height between four and eight inches. It flowers between the end of August and the end of September. Sandplain Gerardia thrives in low nutrient and dry soils, like sand and serpentine barrens, as well as other plants. This wildflower relies on other plants for nutrients and survival according to the Center for Plant Conservation (2010).  Sandplain Gerardia is native to five states along the North East coast of the United States, which include Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New York, and Rhode Island.

Sandplain Gerardia was declared endangered in 1988 and currently remains on the Endangered Species list. Since it has been endangered for a long time, it could become extinct in the near future. Some factors that are contributing to decreasing wildflower numbers are due to habitat disturbance or destruction, low effectiveness of pollination, or the loss of specific host plants to the wildflower (Thomas, n.d.). These factors go hand and hand with human actions and interactions with the environment.

There are a few actions that can prevent further decline in Sandplain Gerardia population, like creating a Recovery Plan. A Recovery Plan states different actions that can be performed to help an endangered species stay at a steady level. For example, states where this wildflower is found can decide to minimize activity in their habitat, do less construction and urbanization, and leave the land undisturbed from human activity (Thomas, n.d.). Along with this, the habitat should be monitored constantly. If strong efforts are made and are successful, Sandplain Gerardia can become a stable population and be able to thrive again (Litman & Harris 2007). These simple actions can help increase this endangered species’ population.

Sandplain Gerardia is quite a unique wildflower with its ability to thrive in low nutrient soils and with the help of other plants. Efforts should be made along the northeastern shoreline to keep Agalinis Acuta from going extinct.

Agalinis Acuta. (2010, March 4). Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/

Litman, L., & Harris, R. (2007, January 1). Threatened and Endangered Plants. Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/

Thomas, J. (n.d.). Sandplain gerardia. Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://www.dnr.state.md.us/

Xyris Tennesseensis

Xyris Tennesseensis

Xyris Tennesseensis, an endangered perennial herb, can be found in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. The common name for this plant is Tennessee yellow-eyed grass. In Alabama, Tennessee yellow-eyed grass grows in sand bars along streams, while in Georgia it grows along ponds and wet meadows. Finally in Tennessee it grows on slopes near very small rivers. There are only around 25 plants still found within these three states. The plant blooms from summer into fall. Tennessee yellow-eyed grass has not been found to be used in any medicine or for food.

Tennessee yellow-eyed grass has been on the list of endangered species since 1991. According to Linda Chafin, contributor for the Center for Plant Conversation, (2010) there are multiple reasons for the endangerment of this species including gravel quarrying, soil trouble, exotic pest plants, water access logging, and the use of herbicides in roadside vegetation. There is a recovery plan of action in progress according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Chafin, L. (2010, March 4). Xyris tennesseensis. Retrieved March 16, 2015, from http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/cpc_viewprofile.asp?CPCNum=4438

Species Profile for Tennessee Yellow-Eyed grass (Xyris tennesseensis). (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2015, from http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=Q2MP

Cressler, A. (Photographer). (N.D.). Tennessee Yellow-Eyed Grass [digital image]. Retrieved from http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/m-6861

Lomatium bradshawii

Via Institute for Applied Ecology

Lomatium bradshawii, commonly known as Bradshaw’s desert parsley, is an herb identified by its tiny yellow flowers. Although it was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1979 (Center for Plant Conservation 2010), the plant was not federally listed as an endangered species until 1988 (Pacific Biodiversity Institute 2013).

This member of the Apiaceae family is an herb native to moist prairies, such as those found in Oregon– particularly the counties of Benton, Lane, Linn, Marich, Marion, and Polk– but populations of the plant have also been found in Washington’s Clark County (United States Fish and Wildlife Service 2010).

Populations of Bradshaw’s desert parsley have dwindled because of loss of habit, mainly from the growing number of both farm lands and housing plots, but they have also been affected by pesticides and grazing animals (United States Department of Agriculture 2010).

According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, a new plan was made to help the populations of Lomatium bradshawii recover (2010). This plan set up certain methods of conservation, including the utilization of fire (Pendergrass, et al. 1999). A few times per year, controlled fires are set in areas where populations of Bradshaw’s desert parsley are known to exist; these controlled fires cause affected plants to grow larger in size and to increase the number of flowers on each plant (Pendergrass, et al. 1999).  Also, a plot of land in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, serves as a nature reserve for Bradshaw’s desert parsley and other species of native wildlife (United States Fish and Wildlife Service 2013).

Center for Plant Conservation (Ed.). (2010, July 8). National Collection of Imperiled Plants – Plant Profiles. Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=2658

Natural Resources Conservation Service (Ed.). (2010, September 1). Introduction to Bradshaw’s lomatium, a Federally-listed Endangered Species, and a Key and Photo Guide to the Lomatium Species that Occur within its Range. Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/orpmstn9946.pdf

Pacific Biodiversity Institute (Ed.). (1993, January 1). Lomatium bradshawii. Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://www.pacificbio.org/initiatives/ESIN/Plants/lomatium.HTML

Pendergrass, K., Miller, P., Kauffman, J., & Kaye, T. (1999, January 1). The role of prescribed burning in maintenance of an endangered plant species, Lomatium bradshawii. Retrieved March 13, 2015, from https://www.frames.gov/rcs/10000/10117.html

Clematis Morefieldii

Clematis Morefieldii

The Clematis Morefieldii, more commonly known as Morefield’s Leather Flower or Huntsville Vasevine, is an endangered plant. One of the C. Morefieldii’s most noticeable traits is the green and pink bell shaped flower that grows at the end of the vine. The vine can grow up to 16 feet in length. They have leaflets like tendrils for grasping onto surfaces and objects around the plant. The entirety of the plant is covered by a cobweb-like layer of tomentose (a white, hair like substance found on some plants).

Discovered in 1980 in Huntsville, Alabama, the plant is known to only grow in parts of northern Alabama, and southern Tennessee. The plant can be found around woodland areas. The vine likes to grow up limestone rock and in highly rocky areas.

Since it’s discovery, the population of Morefield’s Leather Flower has substantially been decreased due to industrial and residential development. Research also leads to believe that the plant has strict reproductive requirements (Kral). Another theory suggests that Mealy bug infestations may be inhibiting the plants growth cycle (TDEC). The plants population may already be too low for it to make a full recovery, and resist extinction.

Some botanists and activists suggest deer enclosures and intentional seed dispersal in order to conserve the plants lifeline. The plant is listed as an endangered species, and protected by multiple organizations. Some woods where the Huntsville Vasevine is found are also under protection by groups such as the Environmental Conservation Online System.

Kral, R. 1987. “A new ‘Viorna’ Clematis From Northern Alabama.” Annals, MO. Online journal. Botanical Gardens 74: 665-669.

“Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).” Atlanta, GA. 2005. Survey for Morefield’s leather flower (Clematis morefieldii) in southeastern Tennessee. Unpublished report.

“Species Profile for Morefield’s Leather Flower (Clematis Morefieldii).” Species Profile for Morefield’s Leather Flower (Clematis Morefieldii). N.p., n.d. Web. ECOS.gov

   

photo by Adam  Cressler (https://www.flickr.com/photos/alan_cressler/4665488470/in/album-72157622080038548/)

AMSNICKA GRANDIFLORA

(Large-flowered Fiddleneck)

Amsnicka grandiflora, also known as the Large-flowered fiddleneck, is located in the western part of the United States. The plant is native to California, more particularly, the Bay Area. It does not grow anywhere else and this has become a major issue to its continuing endangered status.

Even though it lives in an extremely particular region, there are others reasons for why this plant is on the endangered list. The first reason is that the plant has never been naturally abundant in population, which explains why it is only found in one particular region. Next, there are non-native grassland communities that have taken place over the plant. What this means is that there are areas surrounding the population where the plant is not capable to grow. Another reason, which may be the biggest reason for plant species being endangered is that of deforestation. The natural forests are simply being torn down for metropolitan intents.  Finally, this particular plant has a very non- reproductive output: it doesn’t produce many seeds per plant. This is just another factor that makes the revival of the plant difficult.  There is also less motivation to save the plant as hetre are no typical human purposes that the plant has (such as in food or medicine).

The only legitimate attempt for conservation was done by the US Fish and Wildlife services. They have created a 160 acre area in California that the plant is naturally occurring to promote survival and recovery.

n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2015, from http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Amsinckia grandiflora

Amsinckia grandiflora information from NPGS/GRIN. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2015, from http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?319870

Large-flowered Fiddleneck. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2015, from https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Plants/Endangered/Amsinckia-grandiflora