Pityopsis ruthii
(Small) Small
Ruth's Silk-grass
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.153865
Element CodePDAST7B080
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusPityopsis
Synonyms
Chrysopsis ruthiiSmallHeterotheca ruthii(Small) Harms
Other Common Names
Ruth's goldaster (EN) Ruth's Golden-aster (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.
Taxonomic Comments
The species has also been treated in Heterotheca and Chrysopsis.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2021-11-11
Change Date1988-06-30
Edition Date2021-11-11
Edition AuthorsRoth, E., rev. Maybury/Pyne (1996), rev. A. Tomaino (2009), rev. W. Knapp (2021).
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Pityopsis ruthii is a localized endemic of southeastern Tennessee in the eastern United States. The only two populations are on short reaches of rivers that have been dammed, essentially eliminating natural water flows. On one of the rivers, annual scouring no longer occurs and shade-tolerant species are rapidly invading and replacing Pityopsis ruthii. On the other, whitewater recreation-related impacts are a threat.
Range Extent Comments
Pityopsis ruthii is known from only two short reaches of the Ocoee and Hiwassee River, Polk County, Tennessee in the eastern United States.
Occurrences Comments
Though there are 27 sites for this species, they all occur along two small stretches of the Ocoee and Hiwassee River, Polk County, Tennessee. Most are in close proximity and if delineated with a 1 km separation distance, would equate to as few as 2 occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
The Hiwassee River population is especially threatened by competing vegetation; dams have prevented natural scouring processes and allowed competing vegetation to increase, displacing and shading Pityopsis ruthii (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002, USFWS 2007, 2008; USFS 2018). The Ocoee River population is threatened by trampling in connection with whitewater recreation. Other threats may include dam water releases that cause sporadic, higher-than-normal flows during the growing season, and water quality degradation from chemical spills. Maintenance on the Apalachian Dam's powerhouse from November 2015-March 2016, caused elevated water flows for 132 days. Subsequent census data show a decrease in the Hiwassee population and stable Ocoee populations. Water quality threats stemming from mine tailings, acid precipitation, industrial wastewater effluent, and erosion of acidified soils are expected to be impacting the populations (USFWS 2018).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Pityopsis ruthii occurs in soil-filled cracks in phyllite boulders along river banks and in rivers. It is shade intolerant but adapted to annual high water flows. It requires periodic flooding and scouring to remove competing vegetation.
Reproduction
This species is most suited for dispersal by water or rolling on the ground until lodged into substrates (USFWS 2018).
Terrestrial Habitats
Bare rock/talus/scree
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | S1 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 - Human intrusions & disturbance | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 6.1 - Recreational activities | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Pervasive (71-100%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 7.2 - Dams & water management/use | Pervasive (71-100%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Pervasive (71-100%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 9 - Pollution | Restricted (11-30%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Pervasive (71-100%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 11.4 - Storms & flooding | Pervasive (71-100%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (3)
Tennessee (3)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Big Frog Addition | Cherokee National Forest | 369 |
| Little Frog Addition NE | Cherokee National Forest | 321 |
| Little Frog Addition NW | Cherokee National Forest | 628 |
References (15)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Nichols, L. Master, K. Snow, A. Tomaino, R. Bittman, G. Hammerson, B. Heidel, L. Ramsay, A. Teucher, and B. Young. 2012. NatureServe Conservation Status Assessments: Methodology for Assigning Ranks. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 20. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 7: Asteraceae, part 2. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 666 pp.
- Gunn, S.C. 1990. Ruth's golden aster technical draft recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, Georgia. 50 pp.
- Gunn, S.C. 1992. Recovery plan for Ruth's golden aster (<i>Pityopsis ruthii </i>[Small] Small). Prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, Georgia. 24 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.
- Kral, R. 1983a. A report on some rare, threatened or endangered forest related vascular plants of the south. USFS technical publication R8-TP2, Atlanta, GA. Vol. 1: 718 pp.
- Kral, R. 1983c. A report on some rare, threatened, or endangered forest-related vascular plants of the South. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service Technical Publication R8-TP2, Athens, GA. 1305 pp.
- NatureServe. 2021. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
- Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project. 2002. A partnership between the U.S. Forest Service-Region 8, Natural Heritage Programs in the Southeast, NatureServe, and independent scientists to develop and review data on 1300+ regionally and locally rare species in the Southern Appalachian and Alabama region. Database (Access 97) provided to the U.S. Forest Service by NatureServe, Durham, North Carolina.
- Thomson, D.M. and M.W. Schwartz. 2006. Using population count data to assess the effects of changing river flow on an endangered riparian plant. Conservation Biology. 20(4): 1132-1142.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1985. Determination of endangered status for <i>Pityopsis ruthii</i> (Ruth's golden aster). Federal Register 50(138): 29341-29345.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2007. Draft five-year review for Ruth's golden aster (<i>Pityopsis ruthii</i>), sections provided to peer reviewers. Cookeville Field Office, Cookeville, TN. 29 pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2018. Ruth's Golden Aster (<i>Pityopsis ruthii</i>) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, Tennessee Ecological Services Field Office, Cookeville, Tennessee.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2022. Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 35 Southeastern Species. Notice of initiation of reviews; request for information. Federal Register 87(93): 29364-29366.
- U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 2008. Decision notice and finding of no significant impact; experimental removal of competing vegetation from a population of Ruth's golden aster (<i>Pityopsis ruthii</i>) on the Hiwassee River. USDA Forest Service Cherokee National Forest, Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger District, Polk County, Tennessee. [http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/cherokee/planning/2008/ea08.shtml]