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Cymopterus duchesnensis

M.E. Jones

Uinta Basin Spring-parsley

G3Vulnerable Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.140675
Element CodePDAPI0U0A0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderApiales
FamilyApiaceae
GenusCymopterus
Synonyms
Aulospermum duchesnense(Jones) Tidestrom
Other Common Names
Uinta Basin springparsley (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 Date2025-03-06
Change Date1999-01-20
Edition Date2025-03-06
Edition AuthorsMaybury, K., rev. Lyon, P. (2008), rev. N. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Cymopterus duchesnensis is a perennial forb occurring on clay soils in desert shrub, sagebrush, and juniper communities of western United States from Dagget, Duchesne, and Uintah counties in northeastern Utah and Moffat and Rio Blanco counties of northwestern Colorado. There are 21-80 estimated occurrences of this species, which are threatened by grazing, trampling by wild horses, energy and mineral extraction, drought, invasive weeds, road maintenance, off-road vehicle use, and urban expansion.
Range Extent Comments
Cymopterus duchesnensis occurs in the western United States, where it is known from Dagget, Duchesne, and Uintah counties in northeastern Utah and Moffat and Rio Blanco counties of northwestern Colorado (Welsh et al. 2015). In addition, there are several specimens occurring outside of the known range of the species in Mesa (M. Foderaro s.n. (KDH)) and Archuleta (R. Hartman 77454 (KHD)) counties of Colorado that need confirmation (SEINet 2025). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are 21-80 occurrences rangewide (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025). The Utah Natural Heritage Program estimates that there are 23 occurrences using a 2 km separation distance and excluding observations over 40 years old (UNHP 2024). The Colorado Natural Heritage Program estimates that there are seven extant occurrences, one historical occurrence, and one possibly extirpated occurrence (CNHP 2022).
Threat Impact Comments

The primary threats to Cymopterus duchesnensis are habitat degradation caused by grazing, trampling by wild horses, energy and mineral extraction, drought, invasive weeds, road maintenance, and urban expansion (UNHP 2024). In Colorado, the majority of populations are found in habitat with minimal to low levels of landscape disturbance (CNHP 2022).

In Utah, almost all known occurrences are located within grazing allotments, and one occurrence in Colorado was also impacted by grazing (CNHP 2022, UNHP 2024). Trampling by wild horses is also a potential concern for Colorado populations (CNHP 2022). Oil and gas extraction, as well as potential solar development, present ongoing threats to Cymopterus duchesnensis in the Uinta Basin (UNHP 2024). Drought and climate change are also significant concerns, likely affecting the species throughout its range (Wrobleski 2023). Invasive weeds, including Halogeton, Sisymbrium, and Bromus species, are widespread, particularly in disturbed habitats (UNHP 2024). In Utah, half of the documented occurrences are situated within 100 meters of roads, where they could be affected by maintenance activities. Additionally, urban expansion around Vernal may further threaten this species. Off-road vehicles are a threat to one occurrence in Colorado (CNHP 2022).

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Cymopterus duchesnensis occurs in sandy clay and clay semi-barrens of Mancos Shale, Morrison, Duchesne River, Uinta, and Wasatch formations in cold desert shrub, sagebrush, and juniper communities (Welsh et al. 2015). This species often is found in red clay soils, and sometimes in sand, from 1400-1900 m in elevation (FNA 2024).

Reproduction

Plants flower from April through May (FNA 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandShrubland/chaparralDesert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
ColoradoS1Yes
UtahS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquaculturePervasive (71-100%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingPervasive (71-100%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
2.3.4 - Scale unknown/unrecordedPervasive (71-100%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
3 - Energy production & miningLarge (31-70%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
3.1 - Oil & gas drillingLarge (31-70%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
3.3 - Renewable energyRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh - moderate
4 - Transportation & service corridorsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceSmall (1-10%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesSmall (1-10%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1.1 - Unspecified speciesRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
11.2 - DroughtsPervasive (71-100%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
References (17)
  1. Albee, B.J., L.M. Shultz, and S. Goodrich. 1988. Atlas of the vascular plants of Utah. Utah Museum Natural History Occasional Publication 7, Salt Lake City, Utah. 670 pp.
  2. Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP). 2022. Element Subnational Ranking Form: <i>Cymopterus duchesnensis</i> in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia (accessed 6 March 2025).
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2024. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 13. Magnoliophyta: Geraniaceae to Apiaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 566 pp.
  4. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  5. Goodrich, S. 1986. Utah flora: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). Great Basin Naturalist 46(1):66-106.
  6. Goodrich, S., and E. Neese. 1986. Uinta Basin flora. U.S. Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, Utah. 320 pp.
  7. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  8. 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.
  9. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  10. NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2024. Version: 1.1.1 (released Oct 01, 2024).
  11. Peterson, J. S. 1983. Field inventory of selected areas of CO Vol. II Plant Species of Special Concern. Unpublished report prepared for the Colorado Natural Areas Program, Denver, CO.
  12. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  13. Tidestrom, I. 1925. Flora of Utah and Nevada. Contributions U.S. National Herbarium Volume 25. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC. 665 pp.
  14. Utah Natural Heritage Program (UNHP). 2024. Element Subnational Ranking Form: <i>Boechera harrisonii</i> in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia (accessed 4 Dec 2024).
  15. Weber, W.A., and R.C. Wittmann. 1996b. Colorado flora: Western slope. Univ. Press of Colorado, Niwot, Colorado. 496 pp.
  16. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, and L.C. Higgins. (Eds). 2015. A Utah flora, fifth edition, revised 2015. Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Provo, Utah. 987 pp.
  17. Wrobleski, A., Ernst, S., Weber, T., and A. Delach. 2023. The impact of climate change on endangered plants and lichen. PLOS Climate 2(7): e0000225.