Home/Species/ Carson Valley Monkeyflower

Erythranthe carsonensis

N.S. Fraga

Carson Valley Monkeyflower

G2Imperiled Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G2ImperiledGlobal Rank

HighThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.894619

Element CodePDPHR01020

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single nation

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderLamiales

FamilyPhrymaceae

GenusErythranthe

Concept Reference

Fraga, N.S. 2012. A revision of Erythranthe montioides and Erythranthe palmeri (Phrymaceae), with descriptions of five new species from California and Nevada, USA. Aliso 30(1):49-68.

Taxonomic Comments

Fraga (2012) finds and describes Erythranthe carsonensis as a species distinct from E. montioides sensu Thompson (2012) in Baldwin et al. (2012).

Conservation Status

Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Biotics v1

Review Date2019-05-14

Change Date2019-05-14

Edition Date2019-05-14

Edition AuthorsTreher (2019)

Threat ImpactHigh

Range Extent250-1000 square km (about 100-400 square miles)

Number of Occurrences6 - 20

Rank Reasons

Erythranthe carsonensis occurs in a small region of Nevada and California. There are less than 20 known occurrences that are threatened by development and road construction and maintenance, garbage dumping, and impacts related to utilities. There have been past declines related to similar activities.

Range Extent Comments

Erythranthe carsonensis occurs in Nevada and California from Washoe City south to Mesa Vista.

Occurrences Comments

There are less than 20 occurrences rangewide with most of them occurring in Carson City, Douglas, and Washoe Counties in Nevada (iNaturalist 2019; Johnson 2018; SEINET 2019).

Threat Impact Comments

The most severe threats to the species are development, road maintenance and construction, illegal garbage dumping, utility related disturbances (roads, construction of utility infrastructure for water and natural gas), and off road vehicles. Garbage (small and large items like appliances) prevent seeds from germinating. Plants seem to recover in areas where wellheads and pipelines were constructed but the roads supporting those structures have compacted soil which inhibits germination of plants (Johnson 2018).

Additional threats include invasive species (which are proliferated by fire), habitat disturbance from fire fighting activities, trampling by feral horses, and flooding (and related storm water catchment) is a threat at one site. Changes in climate will likely be a future threat (Johnson 2018)

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

From Fraga (2012): This species occurs in "open areas of Great Basin sagebrush/bitterbrush scrub in coarse granite soils on gentle to moderate slopes (0-15 percent), usually on N aspects but also occasionally on S-SW aspects. Elevation 1400-1580 m (4600-5200 ft). Associated species include: Artemisia tridentata, Bromus tectorum, Calyptridium roseum, Camissonia parvula, Cryptantha circumscissa, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Descurainia pinnata, Diplacus nanus, Draba verna, Ephedra viridis, Erodium cicutarium, Erythranthe suksdorfii, Grayia spinosa, Gymnosteris nudicaulis, Layia glandulosa, Plectritis sp., Phacelia curvipes, Phacelia linearis, Plagiobothrys sp., Prunus andersonii, Purshia tridentata, Sisymbrium altissimum, Uropappus lindleyi, Vulpia octoflora, V. microstachys, and Zigadenus paniculatus."

Reproduction

From Fraga (2012): Erythranthe carsonensis has relatively large flowers, a long and distinct corolla tube that expands abruptly to the limb, which is bearded with trichomes. This species also exhibits approach herkogamy and has prominent nectar guide patterns on the palate. Based on evidence from corolla morphology, this species is presumed to be primarily outcrossing. Several insects were observed visiting this species, including skipper butterflies (Hesperiidae), and halictid bees (Halictidae).

Terrestrial Habitats

Shrubland/chaparral

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN2

Province	Rank	Native
California	S1	Yes
Nevada	S2	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
1 - Residential & commercial development	Large (31-70%)	Extreme - moderate	High (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridors	Large (31-70%)	Extreme - moderate	High (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroads	Large (31-70%)	Extreme - moderate	High (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbance	Large (31-70%)	Extreme - moderate	High (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activities	Large (31-70%)	Extreme - moderate	High (continuing)
9 - Pollution	Large - restricted	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)
9.4 - Garbage & solid waste	Large - restricted	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)

Plant Characteristics

DurationANNUAL

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (3)

California (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
Mokelumne - Charity	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	202
Mokelumne - Spratt	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	613
Raymond Peak	Eldorado National Forest	2,518

References (7)

Baldwin, B. G., D. H. Goldman, D. J. Keil, R. Patterson, T. J. Rosatti, and D. H. Wilken, eds. 2012. The Jepson manual: vascular plants of California. 2nd edition. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1568 pp.
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2019. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 17: Magnoliophyta: Tetrachondraceae to Orobanchaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 737 pp.
Fraga, N.S. 2012. A revision of Erythranthe montioides and Erythranthe palmeri (Phrymaceae), with descriptions of five new species from California and Nevada, USA. Aliso 30(1):49-68.
iNaturalist. Online. Available: http://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2019).
Johnson, Janel. 2018. Current Knowledge and Conservation Status of Erythranthe carsonensis Fraga (Phrymaceae), the Carson Valley monkeyflower. Online. Available: <a href="http://heritage.nv.gov/sites/default/files/library/Carson%20Valley%20monkeyflower%20final%20report%202018.pdf">http://heritage.nv.gov/sites/default/files/library/Carson%20Valley%20monkeyflower%20final%20report%202018.pdf</a> accessed 10 Jun 2019.
Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2019. Collections Databases. Online. Available: http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (Accessed 2019).
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2025. 90-Day Findings for Eight Species. Notification of petition findings and initiation of status reviews. Proposed Rule. Federal Register 90(12): 7038-7043.

Erythranthe carsonensis

Habitat

Reproduction

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