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Cymopterus minimus

(Mathias) Mathias

Cedar Breaks Biscuitroot

G3Vulnerable (G3Q) Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.134275
Element CodePDAPI0U0N0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderApiales
FamilyApiaceae
GenusCymopterus
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
Plants of the Paunsaugunt and Table Cliff plateaus (Garfield and Kane Counties, Utah) grade into Cymopterus purpureus (a common and widespread species); additional research is needed to define the limits and relationships of C. minimus (Welsh et al. 2008, D. Stone, 6/97).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-01-19
Change Date2023-01-19
Edition Date2023-01-19
Edition AuthorsOgle, Y., D. Atwood & E. Roth, rev. D. Stone (1997), rev. L. Oliver (2010), rev. Eberly (2023)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Cymopterus minimus is a perennial herb of the western United States that is restricted to Utah on limestone of the Claron Fomation. There are around 50 known occurrences in three counties. Research is needed to define the limits and relationships of C. minimus. Potential threats to this species are numerous but not well understood.
Range Extent Comments
Cymopterus minimus occurs in the western United States where it is endemic to the Paunsaugunt and Markagunt plateaus of Utah in Garfield, Iron, and Kane Counties (Fertig and Reynolds 2009). Range extent was calculated with GeoCAT using data from the Utah Rare Plant Database (2021).
Occurrences Comments
Based on a 2 km separation distance applied to sites documented after 1981, there are 51 occurrences. Some of these occurrences are very close to one another and possibly make up sub-occurrences (UNHP 2022).
Threat Impact Comments
Overall threat impact is not well documented and is assigned as unknown. Most occurrences are on federally administered lands within active grazing allotments although the severity of this threat is unknown. Numerous roads and hiking trails are near occurrences on Forest Service lands. Utility lines pass through a dense area of occupied habitat along Highway 12. Timber harvest and forest thinning occurs within the Dixie National Forest, but scope and severity of the impact to Cymopterus minimus in unknown (UNHP 2022).

Timber harvesting and forest thinning, road building, foot traffic, firewood cutting are potential threats. As of 2010, threats to this species include possible irresponsible use of nearby campgrounds and trails to include hikers and campers not staying in appointed recreation areas, causing ground disturbance; however, these threats aren't currently causing declines in the species.

Given that this is a high elevation species, climate change could also be a threat to the species (UNHP 2022).

As of 2023, large areas of Utah are still under extreme to severe drought conditions (U.S. Drought Monitor 2023).
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Cymopterus minimus is similar to C. purpureus. C. purpureus has longer leaves, which are over 3cm long, and has yellow or purplish flowers. The taxonomic distinctiveness of C. minimus is in question, and may be considered a variety of C. purpureus, but genetic studies are needed to determine the relationship. Some populations in the Paunsaugunt Plateau near Bryce Canyon intergrade with C. purpureus (Fertig and Reynolds 2009, Welsh et al. 2008).

Habitat

Cymopterus minimus is associated with pine, spruce-fir, and pinyon-juniper communities on Tertiary Claron Formation (Welsh et al. 2015). It grows on clay soils on semi-barren outcrops of pink or white Claron Formation limestone, on flat to gently sloping plateau margins and adjoining steep, eroding slopes at high elevations (2,590-3,200 m).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandWoodland - ConiferBarrens
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
UtahS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquaculturePervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
2.1.4 - Scale unknown/unrecordedPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
4.2 - Utility & service linesSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useLarge - restrictedUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingLarge - restrictedUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.3.4 - Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Large - restrictedUnknownHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceRestricted - smallSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesRestricted - smallSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
11.2 - DroughtsPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
HancockDixie National Forest9,809
References (9)
  1. Fertig, W. and D. N. Reynolds. 2009. Survey of Rare Plants of Cedar Breaks National Monument: Final Report CPCESU Cooperative Agreement # H1200-004-0002 Survey Rare Plants and Establish Compliance with Conservation Agreement for Arizona Willow at Cedar Breaks National Monument. Prepared for Cedar Breaks National Monument, The Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, and Southern Utah University. 20 January 2009.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. U.S. Drought Monitor. 2023. Time Series. Online. Available: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DmData/TimeSeries.aspx
  5. Utah Natural Heritage Program. 2021. Utah Rare Plant Database (accessed 2021).
  6. Utah Natural Heritage Program (UNHP). 2021. Element Subnational Ranking Form: <i>Cymopterus minimus</i> in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia (accessed 2023).
  7. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, and L.C. Higgins (eds.) 1993. A Utah flora. 2nd edition. Brigham Young Univ., Provo, Utah. 986 pp.
  8. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich and L.C. Higgins. (Eds.) 2008. A Utah Flora. 4th edition, revised. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, U.S.A. 1019 pp.
  9. 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.