Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.145923
Element CodePDAST4V0D0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusHeterotheca
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-04-18
Change Date1988-06-30
Edition Date2025-04-18
Edition AuthorsRoth, E., rev. J. Niese, rev. B. Franklin (1996), rev. A. Treher (2015), rev. M. McCormick (2024) and N. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank ReasonsHeterotheca jonesii is a perennial forb endemic to sandy soils and sandstone pockets of slickrock in south-central and southwestern Utah in Garfield, Washington and Kane counties. There are an estimated twelve occurrences of this species, which are mostly found in Zion National Park. Threats are minimal on National Park lands, but other sites are threatened by road maintenance and construction and oil and gas extraction. Drought may also be impacting this species throughout it's range.
Range Extent CommentsHeterotheca jonesii occurs in the western United States, where it is endemic to south-central and southwestern Utah in Garfield, Washington and Kane counties (Utah Native Plant Society 2025). Range extent was calculated using data from the Utah Rare Plant Database (2024), excluding historical observations over 40 years old (UNHP 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 2 km separation distance to population location data from the Utah Rare Plant Database (2024), there are twelve estimated occurrences, excluding historical observations over 40 years old (UNHP 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsThreats to Heterotheca jonesii include road construction and maintenance, oil and gas drilling, and recreational activities (NatureServe 2025).
Populations of Heterotheca jonesii in Zion National Park are generally large, mostly occur in areas with few impacts, and have lots of available potential habitat (UNPS 2025). Occurrences on the Dixie National Forest along Posey Lake Road at Hell's Backbone may have been impacted by the initial construction of the road, and by continued maintenance of this road, which likely has negative impacts to the few individuals occurring along the right of way. In that same area, there are oil and gas wells that may have serious impacts to occurrences located in these areas. Recreational use of habitat, such as foot traffic, dispersed camping, and off-road vehicle-related activities, may pose a threat to some populations throughout the range. As the human population grows in areas within easy access to habitat and as recreational use increases, the impacts may become more significant. Climate change is also a threat and likely impacting this species throughout its range (Wrobleski et al. 2023).