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Balsamorhiza sericea

W.A. Weber

Silky Balsamroot

G3Vulnerable Found in 7 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.153573
Element CodePDAST110C0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusBalsamorhiza
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.
Taxonomic Comments
Perhaps not distinct from Balsamorhiza macrolepis var. platylepis according to Hickman (1993). Most floras treat B. sericea as a distinct species (FNA 2006c, Jepson Flora Project 2023, ).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-07-27
Change Date2023-07-27
Edition Date2023-07-26
Edition AuthorsEberly (2023)
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Balsamorhiza sericea occurs in the western United States in Klamath Ranges Ecoregion of northern California and southern Oregon. It is restricted to serpentine and peridotite substrates which contributes to it's narrow distribution and limited number of occurrences. The species may be vulnerable to threats due to intrinsic vulnerabilities but more information is needed about reproduction, seed dormancy, germination rates, and colonization potential. Threats to this species are largely unknown but may include recreational and logging activities.
Range Extent Comments
Balsamorhiza sericea occurs in the western United States in Klamath Ranges Ecoregion in northern California in Siskiyou and Trinity Counties and southern Oregon in Josephine County (FNA 2006c, CNPS 2021). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1992 and 2023 (CCH2 2023, NatureServe 2023).
Occurrences Comments
Based on NatureServe Network occurrence data, herbarium records, and photo-based observations documented between 1992 and 2023, and anecdotal evidence, there may be as many 30 and 40 occurrences rangewide (CCH2 2023, iNaturalist 2023, CNDDB 2023).
Threat Impact Comments
Potential threats to this species are recreational activities, fire, logging activities, and hybridization with Balsamorhiza deltoidea (CNDDB 2023).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species is largely restricted to serpentine or peridotite outcrops, growing in barrens, among surface rocks and cobbles and in crevices in open areas within lower montane coniferous forest at elevations ranging from 400 to 1,800m (CNDDB 2023).
Terrestrial Habitats
BarrensBare rock/talus/scree
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS3Yes
CaliforniaS3Yes
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (7)
California (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bonanza KingShasta-Trinity National Forest16,402
Castle Crags AShasta-Trinity National Forest113
Castle Crags BShasta-Trinity National Forest1,619
Lake EleanorShasta-Trinity National Forest397
Mt. EddyShasta-Trinity National Forest7,232
Oregon (2)
AreaForestAcres
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
References (6)
  1. California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2021. Balsamorhiza sericea account for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2021). Online. Available: https://rareplantfiles.cnps.org/scc/BalsamorhizaSericeaSpAcctSCC20211029.pdf.
  2. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2023. RareFind Version 5.2.14. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  3. CCH2 Portal. 2023. Consortium of California Herbaria. Online. Available: https//:www.cch2.org/portal/index.php (accessed 2023).
  4. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006c. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 21. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 8: Asteraceae, part 3. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 616 pp.
  5. Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2023. Jepson eFlora. Online. Available: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ (accessed 2023).
  6. 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.