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Mentzelia conspicua

T.K. Todsen

Conspicuous Blazingstar

G2Imperiled Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.135102
Element CodePDLOA03260
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderViolales
FamilyLoasaceae
GenusMentzelia
Concept Reference
Todsen, T.K. 1999. A new endemic species of Mentzelia sect. Bartonia (Loasaceae) from New Mexico. Sida 18(3):819-822.
Taxonomic Comments
According to Todsen (1999), this new species is very similar to M. laciniata (Rydb.) J. Darlington. Not in Kartesz (1999), which was published before the description of the species.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2020-08-24
Change Date1999-10-27
Edition Date2020-08-24
Edition AuthorsMacBryde, Bruce (2000), rev. A. Treher (2015, 2020)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Mentzelia conspicua is endemic to Rio Arriba County in northern New Mexico. There are between 20 and 25 sites. This species is an early colonizer and often occurs along roadsides. Invasive species and road maintenance are threats.
Range Extent Comments
Mentzelia conspicua is endemic to New Mexico in the Upper San Juan and Rio Chama Drainages of Rio Arriba County (SEINet 2020, FNA 2016, New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council 1999, Todsen 1999). FNA (2016) reports the species from Sandoval County. The report from Torrance County is mislabeled or from introduced material that is not persisting (New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council 1999).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats to Mentzelia conspicua include road maintenance and invasive species. Melilotus is found at some sites, crowding out the Mentzelia. Although, this species is an early colonizer and occurs along road cuts, so it may be tolerant of some disturbance (Todsen 1999).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occurs on gray to red shales and clays of the Mancos and Chinle formations, typically on road cuts and steep barren hillsides, in pinyon pine and juniper woodlands, and grasslands. It occurs at elevations of 1,800 to 2,250 m (FNA 2016, New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council 1999, Todsen 1999).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferGrassland/herbaceousBarrensBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
New MexicoS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
4 - Transportation & service corridorsPervasive (71-100%)Serious - slightHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsPervasive (71-100%)Serious - slightHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (3)
New Mexico (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bull CanyonCarson National Forest11,512
Chama WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest4,168
Chama WildernessSanta Fe National Forest1,295
References (5)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2016. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 12. Magnoliophyta: Vitaceae to Garryaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 603 pp.
  2. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  3. New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council. 1999. New Mexico Rare Plants. Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Rare Plants Home Page. http://nmrareplants.unm.edu (Latest update: 20 April 2015).
  4. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2020. Collections Databases. Online. Available: http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2020).
  5. Todsen, T.K. 1999. A new endemic species of Mentzelia sect. Bartonia (Loasaceae) from New Mexico. Sida 18(3):819-822.