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Lilium occidentale

Purdy

Western Lily

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Very high - highThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.157883
Element CodePMLIL1A0G0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderLiliales
FamilyLiliaceae
GenusLilium
Other Common Names
Eureka Lily (EN) western lily (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 MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2015-08-12
Change Date2015-08-12
Edition Date2015-08-12
Edition AuthorsOpler, C., and C. Soper, rev. C. Russell, S. Vrilakas, rev. R. Bittman 2005, rev. A. Treher (2015)
Threat ImpactVery high - high
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
There are currently about 45-50 mostly small, widely separated populations along the coast of southern Oregon and northern California. (Although it was never widespread, the species may have had a more continuous distribution just after the last ice age, when bogs and coastal scrub were more extensive than today.) The species is now rapidly declining, and some populations are currently non-flowering, presumably due to environmental stresses. It is known or assumed to be extirpated from at least 8 historical sites due to coastal development, fire suppression and associated forest succession, conversion to cranberry farms, and grazing. Horticultural collection is also a concern. These factors continue to be severe threats to the species' existence throughout its narrow geographic range. A few sites are protected, and annual monitoring is recommended.
Range Extent Comments
Known from narrow strip along the coast in northern California and southern Oregon. Endemic to three counties. Historical occurrence in Coos County, Oregon and extant occurrences in Curry County, Oregon. Several extant occurrence in Humboldt County, California.
Occurrences Comments
About 45-50 small, widely separated populations known (Endangered Species Tech. Bull., 1992). Fifteen occurrences in California and thirty two occurrences in Oregon. Eleven occurrences are historic or extirpated.
Threat Impact Comments
Intense horticultural collecting, road and residential construction, OHV use, development of utility corridors, wetland drainage, grazing, and conversion of habitat to cattle pastures and cranberry farms. Also, the suppression of wildfires has allowed woody vegetation to encroach upon the lily's open habitat at some sites; succession proceeds quickly and habitat can easily be lost despite conservation efforts.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

A tall, leafy-stemmed perennial herb from a scaly bulb with many nodding, deep orange to red flowers with orange to green centers and maroon spots, many of each occurring on several stems. Leaves are scattered along the stem.

Diagnostic Characteristics

Lilium occidentale may be characterized by a deep red perianth with orange toward the base, coarsely mottled, and revolute more than half their length. The axis of the bulb is simple, not branching and matted. (Peck 1961)

Habitat

Pacific coastal wetlands. Mostly restricted to the edges of early successional, wet sphagnum bogs and forest or thicket openings along the margins of ephemeral ponds and small streams. Also in coastal scrub and prairie, and other poorly drained soils near the ocean where fog is common.

Reproduction

The genus has winged flat seeds that are wind-dispersed but also water dispersed (USFWS 2009).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceous
Palustrine Habitats
TEMPORARY POOLHERBACEOUS WETLANDBog/fen
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS1Yes
OregonS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh - moderate
1.1 - Housing & urban areasPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh - moderate
2 - Agriculture & aquaculturePervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh - moderate
4.1 - Roads & railroadsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh - moderate
4.2 - Utility & service linesPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource usePervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plantsPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbancePervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/usePervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (1)
Oregon (1)
AreaForestAcres
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
References (8)
  1. Abrams, L. 1940. Illustrated flora of the Pacific states: Washington, Oregon, and California. Vol. 1. Ophioglossaceae to Aristolochiaceae. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, California. 538 pp.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Meinke, R.J. 1982. Threatened and Endangered Vascular Plants of Oregon: An Illustrated Guide. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. 326 pp.
  5. Peck, M.E. 1961. A manual of the higher plants of Oregon. 2nd edition. Binsford & Mort, Portland, Oregon. 936 pp.
  6. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1994. Determination of endangered status for <i>Lilium occidentale</i> (western lily). Federal Register 59(158): 42171-42176.
  7. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2009. <i>Lilium occidentale </i>(Western lily) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office. [https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc2408.pdf]
  8. York, R.P. 1987. California's most endangered plants. Pages 109-120 in T. Elias (ed.). Conservation and management of rare and endangered plants. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento.