Calamagrostis breweri

Thurb.

Brewer's Reedgrass

G3Vulnerable Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1137207
Element CodePMPOA171M0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyPoaceae
GenusCalamagrostis
Other Common Names
Shorthair Reedgrass (EN) shorthair reedgrass (EN)
Concept Reference
Wilson, B.A., and S. Gray. 2002. Resurrection of a century-old species distinction in Calamagrostis. Madroño 149:169-177.
Taxonomic Comments
Calamagrostis muiriana was split from Calamagrostis breweri in 2002 (Wilson and Gray).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Biotics v1
Review Date2020-01-08
Change Date2005-03-30
Edition Date2020-01-08
Edition AuthorsTreher (2020)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Calamagrostis breweri occurs in the northern Cascades of Oregon and California in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains. There around 50 known occurrences but there is unsurveyed potential habitat across the species range. The primary threats to this species are recreation (hiking and skiing related) and development related to recreation (skiing). Climate change is likely to be a threat in the future and low genetic diversity puts this species at a disadvantage. Many occurrences in both states are on Forest Service Lands.
Range Extent Comments
Calamagrostis breweri occurs in the northern Cascades of Oregon and California in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains and Klamath Ranges.
Occurrences Comments
There are nine occurrences in Oregon and an unknown number in California but herbarium specimens indicate there are at least 36 known occurrences (Calflora 2020).
Threat Impact Comments
Currently, recreation, resulting in trampling, compaction and erosion, might be the greatest threat to the species. Ski operations, including expansion and maintenance of slopes and new infrastructure are threats at sites outside of wilderness areas. Herbivory and seed predation is reported on Mt. Hood.

It occurs at high elevations in alpine or subalpine environments where climate change is expected alter snowpack, timing and amount of precipitation, and shift the tree line, introducing competitive vegetation.

There are a variety of potential threats including mountain goats, horses on trails, invasive species, and future expansions of ski areas (Nugent et al. 2012).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occurs in seasonally moist alpine or subalpine meadows, the banks of streams and the margins of lakes. In Oregon, it is often found growing with Carex nigricans and Luetkea pectinata (Nugent et al. 2012).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
OregonS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentRestricted (11-30%)Serious - slightHigh (continuing)
1.3 - Tourism & recreation areasRestricted (11-30%)Serious - slightHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceLarge - restrictedSerious - slightHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesLarge - restrictedSerious - slightHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh - low

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
California (1)
AreaForestAcres
Grouse LakesTahoe National Forest19,085
References (4)
  1. Calflora. 2020. Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals, including the Consortium of California Herbaria. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database. Online. Available: http://www.calflora.org/ (accessed 2020).
  2. Kartesz, 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.
  3. Nugent, S., M. Stein, M. Roantree, and J. Lippert. 2012. Conservation Strategy: <i>Calamagrostis breweri</i> Thurb., Mt. Hood and Willamette National Forests. Online. Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/sfpnw/issssp/documents2/cs-va-calmagrostis-breweri-2012-01.pdf (accessed 2019).
  4. Wilson, B.A., and S. Gray. 2002. Resurrection of a century-old species distinction in <i>Calamagrostis</i>. Madroño 149:169-177.