Home/Species/ White Bear-poppy

Arctomecon merriamii

Coville

White Bear-poppy

G3Vulnerable Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G3VulnerableGlobal Rank

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.158319

Element CodePDPAP02030

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single nation

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderPapaverales

FamilyPapaveraceae

GenusArctomecon

Other Common Names

Desert Bearpoppy (EN) desert bearpoppy (EN) Great Bearclaw-poppy (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 MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x

Review Date2013-08-12

Change Date1990-09-05

Edition Date2013-08-12

Edition AuthorsBittman, R.L., and J. Shevock, rev. L. Oliver (2003), rev. L. Oliver (2013)

Range Extent5000-200,000 square km (about 2000-80,000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences21 - 80

Rank Reasons

There are more than 150 small occurrences of Arctomecon merriamii, but it occurs in a narrow range of the northeastern Mojave Desert in California and neighboring Nevada. Outside of its relatively safe existence in the Desert National Wildlife Range, its threats include: urban expansion, fire, invasive species, recreation, hydrology changes, grazing, road construction and air quality changes.

Range Extent Comments

Endemic to Death Valley region (eastern Inyo and San Bernardino counties), California and into Clark County, Nevada.

Occurrences Comments

Twenty-six in California; Nevada has many.

Threat Impact Comments

This species occurs in California and Nevada, and is a Mojave Desert endemic. Burro dung, trampling, hiking and invasive speces are threats in California; it is not clear if mining is a threat (CNDDB 2013).

In Nevada this species occurs in Clark Co., the county that contains Las Vegas and where much land is being developed. The threats to the ecosystems where it occurs in the Blackbrush ecosystem are: fire, invasive species (Bromus tectorum, cheatgrass; fire ants which disturb and alter the soil ecology), pesticide application, land development and recreation (Sada et al. 2008). It also occurs in the Mojave Desert Scrub ecosystem, the most extensive in Clark Co., and the threats there, in addition to the ones already mentioned are: urbanization, road construction and altered air quality in the form of increased dust (Sada et al. 2008). In the Salt Scrub ecosystem in Clark Co., NV the third ecosystem where this species is found, changes in surface hydrology and grazing are major threats (in addition to the other major threats in the other ecosystems) (Sada et al. 2008).

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Varies from barren, gravelly places to rocky slopes; some populations on limestone. Chenopod scrub, Mohavean desert scrub. Elevation range from 600-1800 m, but mostly around 1200 m.

Reproduction

Arctomecon merriamii, the bear claw poppy, grows vegetatively in the first year and will flower in the second year if there is adequate rainfall. After the first year, there can be several more flowering events and then they form clonal plants with multiple rosettes as the plant ages (Thompson and Smith 1997). Arctomecon meriamii is capable of self-pollination in addition to outcrossing (Thompson et al. 1997).

Terrestrial Habitats

Shrubland/chaparralDesertBarrens

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN3

Province	Rank	Native
California	S3	Yes
Nevada	S3	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
1 - Residential & commercial development	Large - small	Unknown	High (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridors	Large - small	Unknown	High (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroads	Large - small	Unknown	High (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbance	Large - small	Unknown	High (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activities	Large - small	Unknown	High (continuing)
7 - Natural system modifications	Large - small	Unknown	High (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppression	Large - small	Unknown	High (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Large - small	Unknown	High (continuing)
9 - Pollution	Large - small	Unknown	High (continuing)
9.5 - Air-borne pollutants	Large - small	Unknown	High (continuing)

Plant Characteristics

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (2)

Nevada (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Lovell Summit South	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	28,455
Potosi	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	5,145

References (10)

California Department of Fish and Game. 2000. Natural Diversity Database (RareFind 2), Version 2.1.2, January 25, 2000. Downloaded in 2003.
California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2013. RareFind Version 4. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1997. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 3. Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiii + 590 pp.
Griswold, T., S. Higbee and O. Messinger. 2005a. Pollination Ecology, Final Report for Biennium 2003. Clark County, Nevada (2004-2005).USDA-ARS Bee Biology & Systematics Laboratory. Utah State University, Logan, UT. 103pp.
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.
Morefield, J.D., editor. 2001. Nevada rare plant atlas [with rare plant fact sheets]. Available as a pdf file at: http://heritage.nv.gov/atlas/atlas.html. Compiled by the Nevada Natural Heritage Program, Carson City, for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada.
Morse, L. Memorandum to Rick York, California HP botanist. Regarding the ranking of Arctomecon merriamii
Sada, D., M. Stone, D. Mouat, J. Lancaster, P. Lee, S. MacCabe, L. Bice, M. Hamilton and S. Wainscott. 2008a. Adaptive Management Report for the Clark County, Nevada, Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan. Clark County, Nevada. Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management. Desert Conservation Program. Las Vegas, Nevada. Online. Available: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=conserv_pubs.
Skinner, M.W., and B.M. Pavlik, eds. 1997 (1994). Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 1997 Electronic Inventory Update of 1994 5th edition, California Native Plant Society, Special Publication No. 1, Sacramento.
Thompson, S. K., and S. D. Smith. 1997a. Ecology of <i>Arctomecon californica</i> and <i>A. merriamii</i> (Papaveraceae) in the Mojave Desert. Madrono 44(2): 151-169.

Arctomecon merriamii

Habitat

Reproduction

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