Home/Species/ Barneby's Pepper-grass

Lepidium barnebyanum

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Barneby's Pepper-grass

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank

HighThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.142407

Element CodePDBRA1M040

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single state or province

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderCapparales

FamilyBrassicaceae

GenusLepidium

Other Common Names

Barneby Ridge-Cress (EN) Barneby's Pepperweed (EN) Barneby's pepperweed (EN)

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 Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2

Review Date2022-07-18

Change Date1991-07-19

Edition Date2022-07-18

Edition AuthorsRoth, E., rev. B. Franklin/K. Maybury (1996), rev. A. Tomaino (2009), rev. Treher (2022)

Threat ImpactHigh

Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)

Number of Occurrences1 - 5

Rank Reasons

Lepidium barnebyanum is a perennial herb that is endemic to Dushesne County, Utah in the western United States. While there are over 7,000 individuals, they occur in three occurrences over a range extent of only 50 sq km. The plants are entirely restricted to white shale outcrops which are threatened by damage from off road vehicles including motorcycles and oil and gas development which is actively occurring within the species range. Climate change, especially extended drought, likely threatens the species.

Range Extent Comments

Lepidium barnebyanum is endemic to Dushesne County, Utah in the vicinity of Coyote Canyon, Indian Canyon, and Starvation Reservoir (USFWS 2021, Welsh et al. 2015, FNA 2010, Franklin 2005). Range Extent was calculated using data from the Utah Rare Plant Database (2020).

Occurrences Comments

Applying a 2 km separation distance to sites, there are three occurrences.

Threat Impact Comments

Threatened by off-road vehicle use including motorcycles, development of railway, and the development of oil and gas resources. There are 22 active oil and gas wells with this species occupied habitat (USFWS 2021). While this species is adapted to periodic droughts, extended drought brought on by climate change may be a threat.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Lepidium barnebyanum grows on poorly developed soils derived from white, marly shale outcrops of the Uinta and Green River Formations on ridgelines at elevations of 1,890 to 1,985 m elevation (USFWS 2021, Welsh et al. 2015, FNA 2010). This species occurs in mixed desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities (Welsh et al. 2015, FNA 2010).

Reproduction

This species appears to have low seed production at times (USFWS 2021). However, it is also likely a long-lived seedbanker (USFWS 2021).

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest/WoodlandWoodland - ConiferDesert

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN1

Province	Rank	Native
Utah	S1	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
3 - Energy production & mining	Large - restricted	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High - moderate
3.1 - Oil & gas drilling	Large - restricted	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High - moderate
4 - Transportation & service corridors	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious - moderate	Moderate (short-term)
4.1 - Roads & railroads	Restricted (11-30%)	Serious - moderate	Moderate (short-term)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbance	Restricted - small	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activities	Restricted - small	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weather	Pervasive (71-100%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)

Plant Characteristics

DurationPERENNIAL

Economic Value (Genus)Yes

Roadless Areas (3)

South Dakota (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Indian Creek	Buffalo Gap National Grassland	24,666

Utah (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
0401010	Ashley National Forest	21,886
0401011	Ashley National Forest	30,062

References (7)

England, J.L. 1993. Barneby ridge-cress (Lepidium barnebyanum) recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado. 14 pp.
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2010. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 7. Magnoliophyta: Salicaceae to Brassicaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxii + 797 pp.
Franklin, M.A. 2005. Plant information compiled by the Utah Natural Heritage Program: A progress report. Publication Number 05-40. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Salt Lake City, Utah. 341 pp. [http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/ViewReports/plantrpt.htm]
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.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2021. Barneby ridge-cress (<i>Lepidium barnebyanum</i>) 5-year status review. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Utah Ecological Services Field Office.
Utah Natural Heritage Program. 2020. Utah Rare Plant Database. (accessed 2020).
Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, and L.C. Higgins. (Eds). 2015. A Utah flora, fifth edition, revised 2015. Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Provo, Utah. 987 pp.

Lepidium barnebyanum

Habitat

Reproduction

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