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Pediomelum mephiticum

(S. Wats.) Rydb.

Skunk-top Scurfpea

G4Apparently Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.134266
Element CodePDFAB5L0G0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderFabales
FamilyFabaceae
GenusPediomelum
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 Date2025-04-25
Change Date2025-04-25
Edition Date2025-04-25
Edition AuthorsStoner, N. (1993), rev. J. Beckman (7/96), rev. Johnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Pediomelum mephiticum is a perennial herb native to northwestern Arizona and southwestern Utah with scattered occurrences in southern Nevada. Even though its range is not large, it is relatively abundant in mid-elevation habitats and many of its occurrences are well protected, making it apparently secure.
Range Extent Comments
Pediomelum mephiticum is found primarily in Washington County, Utah and Mojave County, Arizona, north of the Grand Canyon (FNA 2023, Welsh 2010). There are scattered occurrences in Lincoln and Clark Counties, Nevada (FNA 2023, GBIF 2025). This species has been falsely reported in California (Hickman 1993) and Colorado, southeastern Utah, and central Arizona (GBIF 2025). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 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 50 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
While threats to this species have not been documented, occurrences near the rapidly growing cities of Hurricane and St. George, Utah, may be impacted by residential development. In addition, the occurrences on Bureau of Land Management lands in Utah are in close proximity to off-road vehicle trails and may be affected by increased vehicle traffic or dispersed camping as human population in the region grows.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Pediomelum mephiticum grows in pine, juniper, or oak woodlands, blackbrush, Ceanothus, and big sagebrush communities in rocky, sandy, or clay soils (Welsh et al. 1993, FNA 2023).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparral
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaSNRYes
ArizonaS2Yes
UtahS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineModerate (short-term)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineModerate (short-term)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceSmall (1-10%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesSmall (1-10%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
References (14)
  1. Egan AN (2015) Species delimitation and recognition in the <i>Pediomelum megalanthum</i> complex (Fabaceae) via multivariate morphometrics. PhytoKeys 44: 65-87. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.44.8750" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.44.8750</a>
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2023. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 11. Magnoliophyta: Fabaceae, parts 1+2. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvii + 1108 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  4. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  5. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  6. 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.
  7. Kartesz, J.T. 1995. Species distribution data at county level for vascular plants of the United States, from unpublished data files at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, February, 1995.
  8. Kartesz, J.T., and R. Kartesz. 1980. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada and Greenland. Vol. 2. The biota of North America. Univ. of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. 500 pp.
  9. Kearney, T.H., R.H. Peebles, and collaborators. 1951. Arizona flora. 2nd edition with Supplement (1960) by J.T. Howell, E. McClintock, and collaborators. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1085 pp.
  10. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  11. NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2024. Version: 1.1.1 (released Oct 01, 2024).
  12. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  13. Welsh, S.L., and M. Licher. 2010. <i>Pediomelum</i> Rydberg (Leguminosae) in Arizona and two previously undescribed species. Western North American Naturalist 70(1): 9-18.
  14. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, L.C. Higgins, and S. Goodrich, eds. 1987. A Utah Flora. Great Basin Naturalist Memoir 9: 1- 894. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. 894 pp.