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Boechera ophira

(Rollins) Al-Shehbaz

Ophir Rockcress

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.157888
Element CodePDBRA06230
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCapparales
FamilyBrassicaceae
GenusBoechera
Synonyms
Arabis ophiraRollins
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.
Taxonomic Comments
Because Arabis was found to be polyphyletic, most species in the genus Arabis in North America were transferred to the genus Boechera (Al-Shehbaz 2003).
Conservation Status
Review Date2012-06-21
Change Date2012-06-21
Edition Date2010-09-15
Edition AuthorsJ. Morefield (2005), rev. J. Cordeiro (2010)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
This species' global distribution is limited 13 patches comprising 5 occurrences - with fewer than 200 individuals in total - scattered along the crest of the Toiyabe Range in Nye County (also just into Lander County), Nevada (occupied area < 5 sq. km). Long-term trend is not known but occurrences have been relatively stable over the short term, although more survey work is required. Mineral development is a possibility at some sites and 1 site is vulnerable to damage from off-road vehicles and hikers. Because of the high-elevation ridgeline habitat, the species is particularly vulnerable to climatic warming. Its low detectable population numbers may reflect declines from such warming, or might be intrinsic to the species and/or an artifact of difficulty of detection.
Range Extent Comments
It is endemic to the Toiyabe Range, Lander and Nye Counties, west central Nevada, where a convex hull around the known occurrences covers about 29 square km (Rollins, 1981; Morefield, 2003).
Occurrences Comments
Five occurrences are known, based on 1 km minimum separation as of October 2004 EO delimitation guidance, consisting of about 13 separate patches (Morefield, 2003).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats include potential mineral exploration and development, recreational foot traffic, small population numbers and areas, climatic warming; one site at Ophir Summit vulnerable to off-road vehicle use. Populations are well scattered along the crest of the Toiyabe Range, and most are remote from sources of disturbance.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

SUMMARY: Quartzite scree overlying soils with a high clay content at 3035-3210 m elevation along the crest of a mountain range. FULL DESCRIPTION: Loamy soil pockets in dry, exposed quartzitic scree, colluvium, and outcrops on south- to west-facing ridge lines and upper slopes, often in seasonal solifluction areas, at 3035-3210 m elevation. Widely scattered in, and often under canopy of, sparse associations of Artemisia arbuscula, Leptodactylon pungens, and grasses in the mountain sagebrush and subalpine conifer zones.

Reproduction

It flowers in May-June (Rollins, 1993).
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
3 - Energy production & mining———
3.2 - Mining & quarrying———
6 - Human intrusions & disturbance———
6.1 - Recreational activities———
11 - Climate change & severe weather———
11.3 - Temperature extremes———

—

Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
Nevada (2)
AreaForestAcres
Arc Dome - OphirHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,652
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
References (8)
  1. Al-Shehbaz, I.A. 2003. Transfer of most North American species of Arabis to Boechera (Brassicaceae). Novon 13:381-391.
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2010. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 7. Magnoliophyta: Salicaceae to Brassicaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxii + 797 pp.
  3. Kartesz, J.T. 1988. A flora of Nevada. Ph.D. dissertation. Univ. of Nevada, Reno. 3 volumes. 1729 pp.
  4. 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.
  5. Morefield, J. D. 2003. Current Knowledge and Conservation Status of <i>Arabis ophira</i> Rollins (Brassicaceae), the Ophir rockcress. Carson City: Nevada Natural Heritage Program, status report prepared for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada.
  6. Morefield, J.D., editor. 2001. Nevada rare plant atlas [with rare plant fact sheets]. Available as a pdf file at: http://heritage.nv.gov/atlas/atlas.html. Compiled by the Nevada Natural Heritage Program, Carson City, for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada.
  7. Rollins, R.C. 1993a. The Cruciferae of continental North America: Systematics of the mustard family from the Arctic to Panama. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, California. 976 pp.
  8. Spahr, R., L. Armstrong, D. Atwood, and M. Rath. 1991. Threatened, endangered, and sensitive species of the Intermountain Region. U.S. Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT.