(Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) P.J. Alexander & Windham
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.156741
Element CodePDBRA06102
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCapparales
FamilyBrassicaceae
GenusBorodinia
SynonymsArabis laevigata(Muhl. ex Willd.) Poir.Arabis laevigata var. laevigataBoechera laevigata(Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) Al-Shehbaz
Other Common NamesArabette lisse (FR) smooth rockcress (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 CommentsWindham and Al-Shehbaz (2007b) elevate Arabis laevigata var. burkii to full species as Boechera burkii. FNA (2010, vol. 7) follows this treatment. This record is for the narrow treatment of B. laevigata, excluding B. burkii and is equivalent in concept to A. laevigata var. laevigata sensu Kartesz (1994, 1999). Alexander et al. (2013) transfer Boechera laevigata to Borodinia laevigata.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-02-06
Change Date1990-03-16
Edition Date2025-02-06
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsBorodinia laevigata is a wide-ranging biennial herb in a variety of habitats occurring in eastern and central North America from Ontario and Quebec, Canada south to the United States from Maine west to South Dakota and south to the Georgia west to Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Threats include invasive species, timber harvest, recreational activities, lack of fire leading to succession, and likely other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsBorodinia laevigata occurs in eastern and central North America from Ontario and Quebec, Canada south to the United States from Maine west to South Dakota and south to the Georgia west to Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma (FNA 2010, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024). Range extent was estimated to be over 2.3 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 1300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is threatened by invasive species, timber harvest, recreational activities, lack of fire leading to succession, and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2025). 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, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.