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Boechera serpenticola

Windham & Al-Shehbaz

Serpentine Rockcress

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.865004
Element CodePDBRA40110
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCapparales
FamilyBrassicaceae
GenusBoechera
Concept Reference
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.
Taxonomic Comments
Boechera serpenticola was described as a new species by Windham and Al-Shehbaz (2006) who say the populations were originally identified as B. subpinnatifida, but can be distinguished from that, "by its strongly cespitose habit, entire (vs. subpinnatifid) leaves, divaricate and sparsely pubescent (vs. pendent and densely pubescent) fruits, shorter (6-8 vs. 9-14 mm) petals, and longer (1.5-2.0 vs. 0.5-1.0 mm) styles."
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2016-07-05
Change Date2011-07-14
Edition Date2016-07-05
Edition AuthorsBittman and Treher (2016)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent250-1000 square km (about 100-400 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Endemic to north-central California. Only four occurrences documented. Threats are unknown.
Range Extent Comments
It is known only from Shasta and Trinity counties in north-central California.
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Boechera serpenticola has been confused with B. subpinnatifida but is easily distinguished by its entire (versus subpinnatifid to dentate) leaves, shorter (6-8 versus 9-14 mm) petals, and longer (1.5-2 versus 0.5-1 mm) styles.

Habitat

Serpentine ridges and talus; ca. 1100 m elevation.

Reproduction

Flowering Mar-Jun.
Terrestrial Habitats
Bare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS1Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (4)
California (4)
AreaForestAcres
ChinquapinShasta-Trinity National Forest22,040
East BeegumShasta-Trinity National Forest8,425
East ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest6,201
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
References (2)
  1. 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.
  2. Windham, M. D. and I. A. Al-Shehbaz. 2006. New and noteworthy species of <i>Boechera</i> (Brassicaceae) I: Sexual diploids. Harvard Papers in Botany 11: 61-88.