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Lepidium nanum

S. Wats.

Southwestern Pepper-grass

G3Vulnerable Found in 6 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.158201
Element CodePDBRA1M0M0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCapparales
FamilyBrassicaceae
GenusLepidium
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
Review Date2009-01-31
Change Date1988-08-03
Edition Date1999-06-04
Edition AuthorsGries, D., rev. A. Tomaino (2009)
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 80
Rank Reasons
A Great Basin endemic, Lepidium nanum is known from central and eastern Nevada and adjacent Utah. The species is restricted to tufa mounds around hot springs. Threats include recreational use or development, and geothermal development or other water diversions.
Range Extent Comments
Known from central and eastern Nevada and extreme western Tooele County, Utah (Stone 1998; Holmgren et al. 2005).
Occurrences Comments
In Utah, known from one occurrence discovered in the 1996 field season (B. Franklin, pers. comm., 1996 cited by Stone 1998). In Nevada, there are records for two extant occurrences (Nevada Natural Heritage Program 1999). The global rank of this species may be estimated based on unrecorded information in Nevada's files, and so may not correspond with the number of stated occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
Because the species is restricted to tufa mounds around hot springs, primary threats would be recreational use or development, and (VERY long-term) geothermal development or other water diversions (Jim Morefield, personal communication 1999).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Apparently restricted to semi-barren, white, gravelly or clay knolls weathered from calcareous substrates (Stone 1998).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS3Yes
UtahS1Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (6)
Nevada (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
CottonwoodHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest18,161
Currant - East SlopeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest10,101
ShellbackHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest36,455
Table Mtn. - Barley Ck.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,424
Table Mtn. - EastHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest87,789
References (5)
  1. Holmgren, N.H., P.K. Holmgren, and A. Cronquist. 2005. Intermountain flora. Volume 2, part B. Subclass Dilleniidae. The New York Botanical Garden Press. 488 pages.
  2. 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.
  3. Morefield, Jim. Personal Communication. Botanist, Nevada Natural Heritage Program, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Carson City, Nevada.
  4. Nevada Natural Heritage Program. 1999. February 19-last update. List of sensitive plants. Online. Available: http://www.state.nv.us/nvnhp/sensplnt.htm. Accessed 1999, June 3.
  5. Stone, R.D. 1998. Endemic and rare plants of Utah: an overview of their distribution and status. Prepared for: Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, U.S. Department of the Interior by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. 566 pp. + appendices. [https://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/ViewReports/plantrpt.htm]