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Melica stricta

Boland.

Nodding Melicgrass

G4Apparently Secure Found in 62 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Medium - lowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.155937
Element CodePMPOA3X0H0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyPoaceae
GenusMelica
Other Common Names
rock melicgrass (EN) Rock Melicgrass (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 Date2023-08-28
Change Date1991-02-08
Edition Date2023-08-28
Edition AuthorsNordman, C. (2023).
Threat ImpactMedium - low
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Melica stricta occurs in the western United States, in southeastern Oregon, southwestern Idaho, California (especially in the Sierra Nevada), Nevada and western Utah. It is estimated that there are 255 or between 81 and 300 occurrences rangewide, including on about a dozen National Forests, and also on National Parks, and BLM Wilderness. Threats may include recreation impacts to the alpine habitat and extreme or long-term drought such as may be associated with climate change.
Range Extent Comments
Melica stricta occurs in the western United States, in southeastern Oregon, southwestern Idaho, California (especially in the Sierra Nevada), Nevada and western Utah. Range extent was estimated to be 0.5 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1992 and 2023 (Barkworth in Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2007, CCH2 Portal 2023, GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023, NatureServe 2023).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1992 and 2023, it is estimated that there are 255 or between 81 and 300 occurrences rangewide (CCH2 Portal 2023, GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023, NatureServe 2023).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats may include recreation impacts to the alpine habitat and extreme or long-term drought such as may be associated with climate change.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Melica stricta is found on often dry, rocky slopes, sometimes in alpine areas at elevations ranging from 1200 to 3350 meters (Barkworth in Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2007).
Terrestrial Habitats
Alpine
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS4Yes
UtahS1Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
OregonS3Yes
IdahoS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
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)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherLarge (31-70%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
11.2 - DroughtsLarge (31-70%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (62)
California (53)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
Andrews Mtn.Inyo National Forest9,912
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Chineese Camp (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,339
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest11,932
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Halfway CampHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest52
Hoover - Mt.olsenHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest624
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Iceberg - Wolf Ck LkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest175
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Long MeadowHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,967
MonarchSierra National Forest697
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mt. LassicSix Rivers National Forest6,643
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Nevahbe RidgeInyo National Forest302
NightStanislaus National Forest3,173
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest2,518
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
ScodiesSequoia National Forest725
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
Sweetwater (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest19,241
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
TinemahaInyo National Forest27,060
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
West Walker (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest495
West YubaTahoe National Forest16,059
West YubaPlumas National Forest6,071
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
Whisky CreekInyo National Forest865
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
Nevada (9)
AreaForestAcres
Arc Dome - OphirHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,652
Bunker HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,569
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,644
Rose - Big MeadowsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest311
Rose - Davis Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,361
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,568
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
References (6)
  1. CCH2 Portal. 2023. Consortium of California Herbaria. Online. Available: https//:www.cch2.org/portal/index.php (accessed 2023).
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2007a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 24. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 1. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxviii + 911 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2023. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2023).
  4. iNaturalist. 2023. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2023).
  5. 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.
  6. NatureServe. 2023. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.