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Thermopsis robusta

Howell

Showy Golden-banner

G2Imperiled Found in 6 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G2ImperiledGlobal Rank

HighThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.138782

Element CodePDFAB3Z0D0

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single nation

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderFabales

FamilyFabaceae

GenusThermopsis

Concept Reference

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.

Conservation Status

Review Date2000-06-12

Change Date1998-06-24

Edition Date2023-02-13

Edition AuthorsMartinez, M. (1999), rev. Eberly (2023)

Threat ImpactHigh

Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences81 - 300

Rank Reasons

Thermopsis robusta occurs in northern California and southern Oregon. There are over 80 known occurrences but many are roadside and nearly all have at least one threat that could include logging, fire suppression, road maintenance, or off road vehicle traffic. Nearly half are considered to have low viability.

Range Extent Comments

Thermopsis robusta occurs in California (Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties) and Oregon (Curry and Josephine counties) (NatureServe 2023).

Occurrences Comments

There are around 83 occurrences in California and three in Oregon, based on a 1 km separation distance.

Threat Impact Comments

Thermopsis robusta is an early successional colonizer found at sites with periodic disturbance or at shifting sites through time based on recent disturbances. There are many occurrences found along roads, where the canopy is often more open. This preference for road sides, leaves it susceptible to threats of road maintenance, off road vehicle traffic, and competition with other, more aggressive plants, like the invasive Scotch and French brooms. While this species may respond positively to anthropogenically disturbances, the permanence of these sites and the favorable disturbance is unknown. Nearly half of all known sites are roadside. Around 45% of the occurrences may be impacted by logging. A more natural site would be maintained by fire, thus fire suppression is also a threat.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species grows in openings in forest communities, often along ridge lines or along roads, in serpentine transition areas, or in meadows, at elevation ranging from 365 to 1,500 m. Forest communities include North Coast Coniferous Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, and Lower Montane Coniferous Forest.

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferForest - MixedForest Edge

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN2

Province	Rank	Native
California	S2	Yes
Oregon	S1	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
4 - Transportation & service corridors	Large (31-70%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroads	Large (31-70%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
5 - Biological resource use	Large (31-70%)	Unknown	High (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvesting	Large (31-70%)	Unknown	High (continuing)
5.3.5 - Motivation unknown/unrecorded	Large (31-70%)	Unknown	High (continuing)
7 - Natural system modifications	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppression	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)
7.1.2 - Suppression in fire frequency/intensity	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)
8.1.1 - Unspecified species	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)

Plant Characteristics

DurationPERENNIAL

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (6)

California (6)

Area	Forest	Acres
Blue Creek Rare I	Six Rivers National Forest	12,134
Orleans Mtn.	Klamath National Forest	49,090
Orleans Mtn. B	Six Rivers National Forest	17,183
Portuguese	Klamath National Forest	18,915
Siskiyou	Klamath National Forest	54,039
Slide Creek	Six Rivers National Forest	11,458

References (6)

CalFlora. 2005. Information on California plants for education, research and conservation. Berkeley, California: The CalFlora Database [web application]. Available: http://www.calflora.org/. (Accessed 2005)
California Department of Fish and Game. 1997. RareFind 2 personal computer program. Information dated March 1999. Sacramento, California.
California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2001. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (sixth edition). Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee, David P. Tibor, Convening Editor. California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. x + 388pp.
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.
Munz, P.A., with D.D. Keck. 1959. A California flora. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1681 pp.
Nakamura, G., and J. K. Nelson, eds. 2001. Illustrated field guide to selected rare plants of northern California. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources publication 3395, Oakland, CA. 370 pp.

Thermopsis robusta

Habitat

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