Home/Species/ Galisteo Sand-verbena

Abronia bigelovii

Heimerl

Galisteo Sand-verbena

G3Vulnerable Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G3VulnerableGlobal Rank

MediumThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.154040

Element CodePDNYC01060

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single state or province

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderCaryophyllales

FamilyNyctaginaceae

GenusAbronia

Other Common Names

Galisteo sand verbena (EN)

Concept Reference

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.

Conservation Status

Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2

Review Date2024-07-24

Change Date2024-07-24

Edition Date2024-07-24

Edition AuthorsJuanita A. R. Ladyman, rev. A. Tomaino (2016), rev. N. Ventrella (2024)

Threat ImpactMedium

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

Number of Occurrences21 - 80

Rank Reasons

Abronia bigelovii is a gypsophilic perennial herb which is endemic to outcrops of Todilto and Summerville gypsum strata in the western United States in Sandoval, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and San Juan counties of New Mexico. There are an estimated 25 occurrences, which are threatened by gypsum mining, oil and gas development, recreational biking, and drought. Though locally common in Todilto and Summerville gypsum habitat, this species does not form dense populations and is intolerant of extensive soil disturbance. Abronia bigelovii may be more widespread than previously thought, as more populations were recently found outside of the White Mesa and Zia Pueblo areas.

Range Extent Comments

Abronia bigelovii occurs in western North America in the United States, where it is endemic to Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Rio Arriba counties of New Mexico (Spellenberg 1999). It was reported from Apache County, Arizona, near Buell Park, but that report appears to be a misidentification of A. nana (NMNHP 2024). Abronia bigelovii was recently confirmed as occurring on Navajo Nation lands in San Juan County, which greatly expands this species' range to the west (NMNHP 2024). Range extent was estimated to be 13,922 square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).

Occurrences Comments

The New Mexico Natural Heritage Program recognizes 33 occurrences, but some of these are considered historical and last observed over 30 years ago (NatureServe 2024). By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, NatureServe Network occurrence data, and photo-based observations collected between 1993 and 2024, there are an estimated 25 occurrences (iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).

Threat Impact Comments

Abronia bigelovii is primarily threatened in parts of its range by gypsum mining, especially in the White Mesa area, where there is a large wall-board manufacturing plant that is currently inactive but could resume mining activities at any time (Roth 2016). This species is intolerant of soil disturbance and will not likely recolonize remnant gypsum habitat in quarried sites. Infrastructure for oil and gas extraction has likely impacted A. bigelovii populations in the past and has the potential to impact populations in the future (Roth and Siviniski 2015). Recreational trails for mountain bikes is currently impacting some of the gypsum habitats where this species occurs, particularly in the Ojito Area of Critical Environmental Concern. In addition to directly impacting individual plants, recreational bicycling may be impacting this species indirectly by compacting soils, eliminating biological soil crusts, and increasing erosion. Increased frequency and/or severity of drought as a result of climate change will likely impact this species.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Abronia bigelovii is restricted to hills and ridges of calcareous gypsum and clay soils derived from Todilto and Summerville formations (Roth 2016). Typical habitats for this species are on eroding breaks of ridges at hillsides which are largely barren of vegetation, but associated species often include Juniperus monosperma, Sporobolus airoides, and Cryptantha fulvocanescens. The elevation at which plants occur is approximately 1,750-2,250 m (Spellenberg 1999).

Terrestrial Habitats

Desert

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN3

Province	Rank	Native
Navajo Nation	SNR	Yes
New Mexico	S3	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
3 - Energy production & mining	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious or 31-70% pop. decline	High (continuing)
3.1 - Oil & gas drilling	Small (1-10%)	Slight or 1-10% pop. decline	Low (long-term)
3.2 - Mining & quarrying	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious or 31-70% pop. decline	High (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbance	Restricted (11-30%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activities	Restricted (11-30%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weather	Pervasive (71-100%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
11.2 - Droughts	Pervasive (71-100%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)

Plant Characteristics

DurationPERENNIAL

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (2)

New Mexico (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bull Canyon	Carson National Forest	11,512
Chama WS River	Santa Fe National Forest	4,168

References (12)

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2003b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 4, Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 559 pp.
Heimerl, A. 1908. Two new species of Abronia. Smithsonian Misc. Coll. 52: 197-198.
iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
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.
NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
New Mexico Native Plant Protection Advisory Committee. 1984. A handbook of rare and endemic plants of New Mexico. Univ. New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 291 pp.
New Mexico Natural Heritage Program (NMNHP). 2024. Element Subnational Ranking Form: Abronia bigelovii in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia (accessed 24 July 2024).
Roth, D. 2016. Status Survey for Gypsum Townsend's Aster (Townsendia gypsophila), Sivinski's Scorpionweed (Phacelia sivinskii), Todilto Stickleaf (Mentzelia todiltoensis), and Tufted Sand Verbena (Abronia bigelovii) on Zia Pueblo Lands in Sandoval County, New Mexico. Unpublished report prepared by EMNRD-Forestry Division, Santa Fe, NM for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 2, Albuquerque, NM. 29 pp. [http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/ForestMgt/documents/S6_ZIA_Gypsophiles_29.pdf]
Roth, D. and B. Sivinski. 2015. Survey and status report for rare gypsophilic plants in the Ojito/White Mesa area of Sandoval County, New Mexico. Unpublished report prepared by the NM EMNRD - Forestry Division and RCS Southwest for the BLM Rio Puerco Field Office, Albuquerque, NM. [http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/ForestMgt/documents/BLM_GypsumEndemics_2015R.pdf]
Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
Spellenberg, R. 1999. 2016 last update. New Mexico Rare Plants: Abronia bigelovii (Galisteo sand verbena). New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council, Albuqerque, New Mexico. Online. Available: http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/node/1 (accessed 2024).
Standley, P. C. 1918. Allioniaceae. North American Flora 21 (3): 171-254.

Abronia bigelovii

Habitat

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