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Polemonium viscosum

Nutt.

Skunk Polemonium

G5Secure Found in 110 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.128643
Element CodePDPLM0E0M0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderSolanales
FamilyPolemoniaceae
GenusPolemonium
Other Common Names
Polémoine visqueuse (FR) Sticky Jacob's-ladder (EN) sticky polemonium (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 Date2023-07-17
Change Date1991-01-24
Edition Date2023-07-17
Edition AuthorsNordman, C. (2023).
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Polemonium viscosum occurs in alpine areas of the Rocky Mountains and other western North American mountain ranges, from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, south to northern Arizona and New Mexico. The range extent is estimated to be 1.4 million square kilometers, there are over 300 occurrences, and it is considered to be common in high meadows, alpine, or on talus or scree slopes within the center of its range in Colorado.
Range Extent Comments
Polemonium viscosum occurs in alpine areas of the Rocky Mountains and other western North American mountain ranges, from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, south to northern Arizona and New Mexico. The range extent, based on herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1995 and 2023, is estimated to be 1.4 million square kilometers (GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023).
Occurrences Comments
There are greater than 300 occurrences of Polemonium viscosum documented, based on herbarium records and photo-based observations between 1995 and 2023 (GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats to Polemonium viscosum include recreation impacts to the alpine areas where it occurs.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occurs in open woods near timberline and in high meadows, alpine, or on talus or scree slopes (Ackerfield 2015, Wildflower Center 2015).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandGrassland/herbaceousAlpine
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS4Yes
AlbertaS3Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IdahoSNRYes
UtahSNRYes
ArizonaS1Yes
New MexicoSNRYes
ColoradoS4Yes
WyomingS4Yes
OregonS4Yes
MontanaS4Yes
WashingtonS2Yes
NevadaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (110)
Colorado (9)
AreaForestAcres
Bristol HeadRio Grande NF46,087
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Pole Mountain / Finger MesaRio Grande NF43,863
Red TableWhite River NF39,122
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Storm PeakSan Juan NF57,617
Troublesome SouthRoutt NF47,359
Idaho (6)
AreaForestAcres
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
Montana (31)
AreaForestAcres
Allan Mountain (01946)Bitterroot National Forest104,184
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
Big BaldyLewis and Clark National Forest43,135
Big Horn MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest50,846
Black ButteBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest39,160
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Cherry LakesBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest19,945
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Garfield MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest41,891
HighlandsBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest20,044
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Italian PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest90,401
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
LionheadGallatin National Forest33,549
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Fork Judith WsaLewis and Clark National Forest81,131
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
Mt. JeffersonBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest4,482
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
Proposed Line Creek PrnaCuster National Forest389
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
Scotchman Peaks (MT)Kootenai National Forest53,909
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Snowcrest MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,649
Storm LakeBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest9,324
VigilanteBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest15,893
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
Nevada (9)
AreaForestAcres
Alta T - East BHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest21,732
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Bunker HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,569
Moriah - West SlopeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest14,737
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Snake - Peacock CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,069
Snake - Pole CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest766
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
New Mexico (8)
AreaForestAcres
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study AreaCarson National Forest43,739
Cruces BasinCarson National Forest5,244
FallsSanta Fe National Forest2,477
Latir PeakCarson National Forest3,573
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
Pecos WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest5,396
Rancho ViejoSanta Fe National Forest3,827
Wheeler Peak WildernessCarson National Forest2,677
Oregon (1)
AreaForestAcres
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Utah (15)
AreaForestAcres
0401014Ashley National Forest26,903
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418028Uinta National Forest34,002
418029Uinta National Forest15,673
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Big Bear CreekManti-Lasal National Forest28,440
Boulder Mtn. / Boulder Top / Deer LakeDixie National Forest110,690
Bullion - DelanoFishlake National Forest14,917
Fishlake MountainFishlake National Forest25,217
High Uintas (UT)Wasatch-Cache National Forest102,398
Horse Mountain - Mans PeakManti-Lasal National Forest22,159
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Tushar MountainFishlake National Forest39,992
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Washington (1)
AreaForestAcres
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
Wyoming (30)
AreaForestAcres
Bear RocksBighorn National Forest25,023
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Campbell LakeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest7,088
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Devils CanyonBighorn National Forest37,416
French CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest5,928
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Horse Creek MesaBighorn National Forest77,808
Libby FlatsMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest11,107
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
Little Sheep MountainBridger-Teton National Forest14,192
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
Mosquito Lake - Seven LakesBridger-Teton National Forest51,950
Pacific Creek - Blackrock CreekBridger-Teton National Forest24,658
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
ReefShoshone National Forest16,817
Salt River RangeBridger-Teton National Forest235,661
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
South ForkShoshone National Forest64,903
South Wyoming RangeBridger-Teton National Forest85,776
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Sulphur CreekShoshone National Forest30,221
Togwotee PassShoshone National Forest7,344
Trout CreekShoshone National Forest44,034
Warm Spring CreekShoshone National Forest6,216
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (5)
  1. Ackerfield, J. 2015. Flora of Colorado. Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, TX. 818 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2023. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2023).
  3. iNaturalist. 2023. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2023).
  4. 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.
  5. Wildflower Center. 2015. Native Plant Database: <i>Polemonium viscosum</i>. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas, Austin. Accessed: September 23, 2022. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=POVI