Stephanomeria occultata
B.Wellard & J.W.Baker
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1085135
Element CodePDAST8U0N0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusStephanomeria
Concept ReferenceWellard, B. and J. Baker. 2018. Stephanomeria occultata (Asteraceae: Cichorieae), a New Species of Wirelettuce from Northern Utah, and a Key to all Perennial Wirelettuce. Systematic Botany 43(2):595–601.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-05-17
Change Date2024-05-17
Edition Date2024-05-17
Edition AuthorsTreher (2020), rev. N. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent100-250 square km (about 40-100 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank ReasonsStephanomeria occultata is a perennial herb endemic to gravel bars, ephemeral drainages, and floodplains of the Weber River in Morgan County, Utah. It is only known from three occurrences with an estimated total population of 1500 individuals. The species is threatened by weeds and road maintenance. Habitat for Stephanomeria occultata may have been much more abundant in the past prior to anthropogenic alterations of natural flow regimes of the Weber River.
Range Extent CommentsStephanomeria occultata occurs in western North America and is endemic to Morgan County, Utah in the USA. Range extent was calculated at 210 square kilometers using data from the Utah Rare Plant Database (2020, UNHP 2021).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 2 km separation distance to population location data from the Utah Rare Plant Database (2020), there are three estimated occurrences (UNHP 2021).
Threat Impact CommentsStephanomeria occulata occupies gravely habitats near the Weber River. Habitat for this species on ephemeral river channels and gravel bars may have been more common in the past but is currently scarce due to anthropogenic alterations of natural flow regimes (Wellard and Baker 2018). The Weber River drainage is used by both railroad and interstate systems, and plants have been impacted by herbicide spraying along the 1-84 corridor (UNHP 2021). Invasive weeds such as Bromus tectorum, Linaria dalmatica, Verbascum thapsus, and Melilotus officinalis are also a concern for this species, especially as transportation corridors may spread invasives to additional populations (Wellard and Baker 2018). Soil erosion and movement and climate change were also listed as threats to this species by the Utah Natural Heritage Program (UNHP 2021).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Stephanomeria occultata occurs on loose gravel, river cobble, limestone or quartzite talus slopes or rock outcrops and crevices within mountain brush and forb communities between 590 to 1,650 m in elevation (Wellard and Baker 2018). Associated species include Alyssum desertorum, Ambrosia psilostachya, Artemisia spp., Bromus tectorum, Ericameria nauseosa, Lactuca serriola, Tragopogon dubius, and Verbascum thapsus.
Reproduction
This species has many plumose bristles that are spread by wind, suggesting that long distance dispersal events are possible (Wellard and Baker 2018).
Terrestrial HabitatsShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|
| Utah | S2 | Yes |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
Utah (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|
| Burch Creek | Wasatch-Cache National Forest | 6,938 |
| Lewis Peak | Wasatch-Cache National Forest | 11,616 |
References (4)
- Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2021. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2021).
- Utah Natural Heritage Program. 2020. Utah Rare Plant Database. (accessed 2020).
- Utah Natural Heritage Program. 2021. Element Subnational Ranking Form: <i>Stephanomeria occulata</i> in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia (accessed 17 May 2024).
- Wellard, B. and J. Baker. 2018. <i>Stephanomeria occultata</i> (Asteraceae: Cichorieae), a New Species of Wirelettuce from Northern Utah, and a Key to all Perennial Wirelettuce. Systematic Botany 43(2):595–601.