Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.152623
Element CodePDERI08010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderEricales
FamilyEricaceae
GenusChamaedaphne
SynonymsCassandra calyculata(L.) D. Don
Other Common NamesCassandre caliculé (FR) leatherleaf (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, 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.
Taxonomic CommentsAccording to Weakley et al. (2022), "A number of varieties have been named ... The validity of the varieties is doubtful (pending more careful study), and for now we regard this as a species lacking taxonomically recognizable varieties." FNA (vol. 8, 2009) does not recognize subspecific taxa. The genus name Chamaedaphne has been nomenclaturally conserved; the genus containing these plants has sometimes been called Cassandra instead.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-09-26
Change Date1983-09-06
Edition Date2024-09-26
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsChamaedaphne calyculata is a shrub native to boreal forests and coniferous wetlands in northern and eastern North America and Eurasia. Threats to this species include development, recreation, water pollution (including nutrient runoff, sedimentation), invasive species, alteration of hydrology, beaver dam construction, woody plant encroachment, peat mining, and other threats in some places. With a large range extent, more than 600 occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsChamaedaphne calyculata has a circumboreal distribution. In North America, it is found from Alaska east to Newfoundland and St. Pierre &Miquelon. It's range extends southward in the eastern United States to South Carolina. Historic reports exist from Iowa and Georgia but are not confirmed by herbarium specimens. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsChamaedaphne calyculata is rare in the southern part of its distribution but abundant farther north. By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be more than 1000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Chamaedaphne calyculata is threatened by development, recreation, water pollution (including nutrient runoff, sedimentation), invasive species, alteration of hydrology, beaver dam construction, woody plant encroachment, peat mining, and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2024). There is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand the scope and severity of threats for this taxon. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.