Home/Species/ Broad-fruit Mariposa

Calochortus nitidus

Dougl.

Broad-fruit Mariposa

G4Apparently Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank

Medium - lowThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.133752

Element CodePMLIL0D0Y0

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single nation

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassMonocotyledoneae

OrderLiliales

FamilyLiliaceae

GenusCalochortus

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 Date2024-11-07

Change Date2024-11-07

Edition Date2024-11-07

Edition AuthorsNiese, J., rev. Johnson, J. (2024)

Threat ImpactMedium - low

Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences81 - 300

Rank Reasons

Calochortus nitidus is a perennial herb endemic to parts of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, United States. There are many sites within a narrow global range. Occurrences are somewhat threatened by agriculture, roads, and climate change.

Range Extent Comments

Calochortus nitidus is native to the eastern Palouse prairie of far southeast Washington and western Idaho and a few scattered populations in central Idaho, United States. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).

Occurrences Comments

Based on herbarium records and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, and anecdotal evidence, there are 180 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).

Threat Impact Comments

Calochortus nitidus may be threatened by farming and grazing, road construction and maintenance, and climate change. Many of the grassland habitats that are suitable for farming in this region have already been converted to agricultural fields and the remaining Calochortus nitidus populations occur on thin, poor soils or smaller swales. However, these remaining populations could be affected by new agricultural infrastructure such as pipelines, ditches, and access roads. Occurrences adjacent to agricultural fields may be impacted by invasive species and herbicide applications.

Many occurrence are adjacent to roads that range is size from state highways to small logging roads and off-road vehicle trails. These roads and trails are vectors for invasive plant species in addition to directly disturbing habitat.

This region of the western United States is predicted to become hotter and drier in the future with increased severity of droughts. While mature Calochortus nitidus can tolerate existing levels of heat and drought, climate change may impact the conditions needed for germination and establishment, resulting in fewer recruitment opportunities.

Many Calochortus species are well-adapted to fire (Panjabi and Anderson 2006).

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Calochortus nitidus grows in late seral and climax grassland communities, moist swales in mesic shrub-steppe vegetation, and open woodlands bordering grasslands. The soils are primarily loess and alluvium on slopes that vary from flat to moderately steep (WNHP 2022, Brown and Proctor 2018).

Terrestrial Habitats

Grassland/herbaceous

Palustrine Habitats

HERBACEOUS WETLANDRiparian

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN4

Province	Rank	Native
Oregon	S1	Yes
Idaho	S3	Yes
Washington	S1	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture	Large (31-70%)	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small (1-10%)	Serious - moderate	Moderate (short-term)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching	Large (31-70%)	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridors	Small (1-10%)	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroads	Small (1-10%)	Serious - moderate	High (continuing)

Plant Characteristics

DurationPERENNIAL

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (3)

Idaho (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
North Lochsa Slope	Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest	117,662

Oregon (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Lord Flat Somers Point	Wallowa-Whitman National Forest	67,738
Snake River	Wallowa-Whitman National Forest	31,229

References (8)

Brown, B. and J. Proctor. 2018. Forest concurrence (or recommendation if new) for inclusion of <i>Calochortus nitidus</i> on list of potential Species of Conservation Concern. U.S. Forest Service, Salmon-Challis National Forest. Online. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd578801.pdf (Accessed 2023).
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 26. Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvi + 723 pp.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
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.
NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
Panjabi, S.S. and D.G. Anderson. 2006. <i>Calochortus flexuosus S. Watson (winding mariposa lily):</i> a technical conservation assessment. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. [https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5206973.pdf]
Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
Washington Natural Heritage Program (WNHP). 2022. Online Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Washington Online. Available: https://fieldguide.mt.gov/wa (accessed 2022).

Calochortus nitidus

Habitat

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