Cirsium vinaceum
Woot. & Standl.
Sacramento Mountains Thistle
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Very highThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.130056
Element CodePDAST2E320
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusCirsium
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 Date2016-04-20
Change Date2016-04-20
Edition Date2012-11-20
Edition AuthorsRoth, E., rev. DeBruin/Maybury (1996), A. Treher (2012), rev. A. Tomaino (2016)
Threat ImpactVery high
Range Extent250-1000 square km (about 100-400 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Endemic to the Sacramento Mountains of south-central New Mexico, where it is confined to springs and streams. The plants were historically known to occur in wet areas throughout the mountain range, but are now mostly restricted places too steep for livestock. The species is threatened by destruction of its habitat by livestock and water development, competition with exotic species, road construction, logging, suppression of natural disturbance regimes (fire) and recreational activities. Water loss by both anthropogenic and natural causes is the reason for the extirpation of some populations since 1995.
Range Extent Comments
Endemic to the Sacramento Mountains of south-central New Mexico (Otero County).
Threat Impact Comments
Habitat destruction by livestock and water development, competition with exotic species, road construction, logging, recreational activities, and suppression of natural disturbance regimes (fire) . Water loss by both anthropogenic and natural causes is the reason for the extirpation of some populations since 1995.
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Moist banks of streams, wet meadows, and other moist areas above 2300 m. Remaining populations are mostly in the vicinity of springs flowing out of limestone, where steep calcium carbonate deposits have formed. These receive less grazing and trampling than the surrounding flat areas and have provided a refuge for the species.
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceous
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDFORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | S1 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Moderate - insignificant/negligible |
| 2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Moderate - insignificant/negligible |
| 4 - Transportation & service corridors | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Unknown |
| 4.1 - Roads & railroads | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Unknown |
| 5 - Biological resource use | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Unknown |
| 5.3 - Logging & wood harvesting | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Unknown |
| 6 - Human intrusions & disturbance | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Unknown |
| 6.1 - Recreational activities | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Unknown |
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Unknown |
| 7.1 - Fire & fire suppression | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 7.2 - Dams & water management/use | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Unknown |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Pervasive - large | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Large (31-70%) | Extreme - serious | High (continuing) |
| 11.2 - Droughts | Large (31-70%) | Extreme - serious | High (continuing) |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Short-lived
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (11)
New Mexico (11)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Culp | Lincoln National Forest | 3,251 |
| Culp | Lincoln National Forest | 3,251 |
| Grapevine | Lincoln National Forest | 2,086 |
| Jefferies Canyon | Lincoln National Forest | 8,934 |
| Jefferies Canyon | Lincoln National Forest | 8,934 |
| Little Dog And Pup Canyons | Lincoln National Forest | 25,412 |
| North Rocky Canyon | Lincoln National Forest | 8,068 |
| Ortega Peak | Lincoln National Forest | 11,545 |
| Ortega Peak | Lincoln National Forest | 11,545 |
| West Face Sacramento Mountains | Lincoln National Forest | 41,176 |
| West Face Sacramento Mountains | Lincoln National Forest | 41,176 |
References (7)
- Fletcher, R. 1978. Status report: Cirsium vinaceum. U.S. Forest Service, Region 3, Albuquerque, NM. 5 pp.
- Huenneke, L., and J. Thomson. 1994. Potential interference between a threatened endemic thistle and an invasive nonnative plant. Conservation Biology 9: 416-425.
- 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.
- New Mexico Native Plant Protection Advisory Committee. 1984. A handbook of rare and endemic plants of New Mexico. Univ. New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 291 pp.
- Sivinski, R., and K. Lightfoot. 1993. Sacramento Mountains thistle (Cirsium vinaceum) recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1987. Final rule to determine <i>Cirsium vinaceum</i> (Sacramento Mountains thistle) to be a threatened species. Federal Register 52(115): 22933-22936.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2010. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding on a Petition to Delist <i>Cirsium vinaceum</i> (Sacramento Mountains thistle). Federal Register 75(105):30757-30769.