Helianthus devernii

T.M. Draper

Red Rock Sunflower

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1256500
Element CodePDAST4N280
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusHelianthus
Concept Reference
Draper, T.M., and T.C. Esque. 2021. A new species of Helianthus (Asteraceae) from Clark County, Nevada. Madroño, 68(1): 52-56.
Taxonomic Comments
Helianthus devernii is a newly discovered species known only from Spring Mountains, Nevada (Draper and Esque 2021).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-03-21
Change Date2022-11-02
Edition Date2022-11-02
Edition AuthorsTomaino, A. (2022)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Helianthus devernii is a perennial herb known from approximately 400 plants at two desert springs less than 0.5 km apart, mostly on private inholdings within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Clark County, Nevada. Threats include heavy recreational use, burro disturbance, any over-pumping of ground water, and fires fueled by exotic grasses.
Range Extent Comments
Helianthus devernii is known only from two springs in the Spring Mountains of Clark County, Nevada in the western United States (Draper and Esque 2021).
Occurrences Comments
There are multiple sites for Helianthus devernii that are less than 0.5 km apart, and therefore considered one occurrence (SEINet 2023, Draper and Esque 2021).
Threat Impact Comments
Helianthus devernii is threatened by heavy recreational use and exotic plants and animals (burros, Equus asinus), excessive groundwater use, fires exasperated and fueled by exotic grasses (Draper and Esque 2021).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species habitat is a desert spring community associated with moist soils of red sandstone alluvium and often with a thin layer of saline crust (Draper and Esque 2021). The vegetative community separating the two springs is a mixed desert shrub community of Coleogyne ramosissima and Ambrosia dumosa with the exotic Bromus rubens in the shrub interspace (Draper and Esque 2021).
Terrestrial Habitats
Desert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceRestricted (11-30%)Serious - slightHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesRestricted (11-30%)Serious - slightHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/usePervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
7.2.8 - Abstraction of ground water (unknown use)Pervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - largeSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesPervasive - largeSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
8.1.1 - Unspecified speciesPervasive - largeSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (2)
Nevada (2)
AreaForestAcres
Lovell Summit SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,455
PotosiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,145
References (2)
  1. Draper, T.M., and T.C. Esque. 2021. A new species of <i>Helianthus </i>(Asteraceae) from Clark County, Nevada. Madroño, 68(1): 52-56.
  2. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2023. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2023).