Eremogone ursina
(B.L. Robinson) Ikonnikov
Bear Valley Sandwort
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Very highThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.141513
Element CodePDCAR040R0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyCaryophyllaceae
GenusEremogone
SynonymsArenaria ursinaB.L. Robins.
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.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2012-03-05
Change Date2012-03-05
Edition Date1987-06-18
Edition AuthorsBittman, R.L., rev. Maybury (1997), rev. L. Oliver (2003), rev. A. Treher & R. Bittman (CA botanist) (2012)
Threat ImpactVery high
Range Extent<100-250 square km (less than about 40-100 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 80
Rank ReasonsRestricted to a unique habitat that occurs in a 240 square km-area in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California. There are 19 extant EOs. Heavy off-road vehicle and hiking use is occurring and is a significant threat, as the fragile pebble plain habitat is extremely susceptible to long-persisting or irreversible damage from these activities. Some habitat was severely damaged by an act of vandalism involving a construction vehicle. Extensive potential habitat was probably lost with the construction of a dam and reservoir in the late 1800s.
Range Extent CommentsRestricted to "Pebble Plains" (dense clay soils, usually with a cobble pavement of saragossa quartzite with little or no litter in the A-horizon) and dry slopes in pinyon and juniper woodlands in the northeastern San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County, California.
Occurrences CommentsThirty-four EOs, but 4 are ranked as C, D, or X and 11 are historic (Bittman, pers. comm. 2012).
Threat Impact CommentsAs of 2008, 10 occurrences are documented (USFWS 2008). In 1998, 6 of the 8 then known occurrences were threatened (USFWS 1998). Threats include off-road vehicle activity, mining, cattle grazing, urban development, foot traffic and trampling (CNPS 2001, CNDDB 2003, USFWS 2008).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Grows on pebble plains and dry slopes in pinyon and juniper woodland. Pebble plains: dense clay soils, usually covered with a cobble pavement of quartzite. These are sparsely vegetated; they occur as openings in the surrounding forest at 1800-2300 m elevation. They support several endemic plant species and disjunct occurrences of plants that are more common elsewhere. Occurs with Eriogonum kennedyi ssp. austromontanum. Eremogone ursina tolerates more shaded sites than other pebble plains associated species.
Terrestrial HabitatsForest/WoodlandForest - ConiferWoodland - ConiferBarrens
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|
| California | S1 | Yes |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
References (8)
- Bittman, Roxanne. Personal Communication. Botanist, California Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento, Calif.
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2005. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 5. Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae: Caryophyllales, Polygonales, and Plumbaginales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. vii + 656 pp.
- Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
- 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.
- Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1995. Proposed endangered or threatened status for seven plants from the mountains of southern California. Federal Register 60(148): 39337-39347.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1998. Final rule to determined endangered or threatened status for six plants in the moutains of southern California. Federal Register 63: 49006-49022. 14 September 1998.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2008. Bear Valley Sandwort (<i>Arenaria ursina</i>) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. USFWS Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office: Carlsbad, California. 15 pp.