Doellingeria paucicapitata

(Robins.) Semple, Brouillet, and G.A. Allen

Olympic Aster

G3Vulnerable (G3G4) Found in 5 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.150935
Element CodePDASTEC080
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusDoellingeria
Synonyms
Aster engelmannii var. paucicapitatusB. L. RobinsonAster paucicapitatus(B.L. Robins.) B.L. Robins.Eucephalus paucicapitatus(B.L. Robins.) Greene
Other Common Names
Aster à capitules peu nombreux (FR) Olympic Mountain aster (EN) Olympic Mountain Aster (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Taxonomic Comments
Allen et al. (2019) combine Doellingeria and Eucephalus into a single North American genus, with "all new combinations...made in Doellingeria, which has priority."
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Biotics v1
Review Date2019-12-12
Change Date2019-12-12
Edition Date2019-12-12
Edition AuthorsMacBryde, Bruce (2000), rev. Treher (2019)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Eucephalus paucicapitatus is a perennial herb that has a limited range in the coastal regions of Washington state, in the Olympic Mountains on the Olympic Peninsula, and British Columbia, in the subalpine zones of Vancouver Island. With targeted surveys, historic collections and suitable habitat, are likely to yield additional extant occurrences. Currently between 20 and 30 are believed to be extant globally. Threats are not well documented but not expected to be severe, as most occurrences are on protected lands. Recent surveys do show healthy, reproducing individuals capable of dispersal to favorable sites. Long term, climate change could be an increasing threat.
Range Extent Comments
Eucephalus paucicapitatus occurs on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington (U.S.A.) and the subalpine region of mountains on Vancouver Island in British Columbia (Canada).
Occurrences Comments
There are likely around 6 extant occurrences in Washington and in British Columbia, there are less than 20.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

In British Columbia (on Vancouver Island), this species occurs in mesic to dry meadows and rock outcrops; in Washington, it has been reported on ridges and dry slopes.
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN3
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS3Yes
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
WashingtonSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownLow (long-term)

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (5)
Washington (5)
AreaForestAcres
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
LightningOlympic National Forest7,179
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
Upper SkokomishOlympic National Forest9,311
References (7)
  1. Allen, G.A., L. Brouillet, J.C. Semple, H.J. Guest, and R. Underhill. 2019. Diversification of the North American <i>Doellingeria-Eucephalus</i> Clade (Astereae: Asteraceae) Inferred from Molecular and Morphological Evidence. Systematic Botany 44(4): 930-942.
  2. Cronquist, A. 1955. Compositae. In C.L. Hitchcock, A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J.W. Thompson (eds.). Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Part 5. Univ. Washington Press, Seattle. 343 pp.
  3. Douglas, G.W., G.B. Straley, and D. Meidinger. 1989. The vascular plants of British Columbia. Part 1. Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons (Asteraceae through Cucurbitaceae). Crown Publications Incorporated. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 208 pp.
  4. Ferris, R.S. 1960. Illustrated flora of the Pacific states: Washington, Oregon, and California. Vol. IV. Bignoniaceae to Compositae. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, CA. 732 pp.
  5. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 20. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 7: Asteraceae, part 2. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 666 pp.
  6. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  7. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 1997. Endangered, Threatened and Sensitive Vascular Plants of Washington - with Working Lists of Rare Non-Vascular Species. Department of Natural Resources. Olympia. 62 p.