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Calyptridium pygmaeum

Parish ex Rydb.

Pygmy Pussy-paws

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Very high - highThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.128135
Element CodePDPOR09070
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyMontiaceae
GenusCalyptridium
Synonyms
Cistanthe pygmaea(Parish ex Rydb.) Hershkovitz
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
In a phylogenetic analysis of western North and South American Portulacaceae, Hershkovitz (2006) places this species in the genus Calyptridium and treats it as Calyptridium pygmaeum. In contrast, Kartesz (1994) and FNA (2003, vol. 4) treat it as Cistanthe pygmaea.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2017-04-10
Change Date2017-04-10
Edition Date2017-04-10
Edition AuthorsGravuer, K.(2009), rev. Bittman and Treher (2016), rev. R. Bittman (2017)
Threat ImpactVery high - high
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 20
Rank Reasons
Endemic to California, where it is known from the southern High Sierra Nevada and the San Bernardino Mountains. This species is known from 11 occurrences, only one of which has been seen recently. Most occurrences are on U.S. Forest Service land. Possible threats include development and recreational activities.
Range Extent Comments
Endemic to California. Occurs in two somewhat separate areas - the southern High Sierra Nevada in Fresno, Inyo, Tulare counties and the San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino County (Hickman 1993, Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2003). The site where plants were seen recently is in Inyo County.
Occurrences Comments
There are 11 occurrences, but 10 are historical (CNDDB 2017). Since they're on public lands, they may still be extant, but they should definitely be checked. Only 1 occurrence in the California Natural Diversity Database has been observed recently. The older occurrences require fieldwork to determine whether plants are still extant; the species was sought and not found at two of them, but the absence could have been due to low rainfall.
Threat Impact Comments
Development, recreation, and trail use may threaten the species (CNDDB 2017).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Dry, less often moist, sandy or gravelly soils within upper montane and subalpine coniferous forests. 1900-3500 m.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - Conifer
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial development———
1.1 - Housing & urban areas———
6 - Human intrusions & disturbance———
6.1 - Recreational activities———

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Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (3)
California (3)
AreaForestAcres
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
References (6)
  1. California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2009. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants. California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. Online. Available: http://www.cnps.org/inventory (accessed 2009).
  2. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2017. RareFind Version  5.2.14. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2003b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 4, Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 559 pp.
  4. Hershkovitz, M.A. 2006. Ribosomal and chloroplast DNA evidence for diversification of western American Portulacaceae in the Andean region. Gayana Botánica 63(1): 13-74.
  5. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  6. 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.