Thelypodium howellii ssp. spectabilis
(M.E. Peck) Al-Shehbaz
Howell's Spectacular Thelypody
T1T1Global Rank
Very highThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.156632
Element CodePDBRA2N052
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSubspecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCapparales
FamilyBrassicaceae
GenusThelypodium
SynonymsThelypodium howellii var. spectabilisM.E. Peck
Other Common NamesHowell's thelypody (EN)
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 Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2021-03-16
Change Date1993-09-16
Edition Date2021-03-16
Edition AuthorsJ. Snyder, rev. D. Gries (1999), rev. S. Vrilakas (2006), rev. C. Nordman (2021).
Threat ImpactVery high
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank ReasonsThelypodium howellii ssp. spectabilis is a subspecies endemic to a small range in eastern Oregon. The taxon is known from very few sites. Much of the historical habitat and formerly known populations have been destroyed, and most remaining locations are not protected.
Range Extent CommentsThelypodium howellii ssp. spectabilis only occurs in the United States. It is endemic to the northeastern corner of Oregon, occurring in the Baker-Powder River valley in Baker and Union Counties (NatureServe Network Database as of March 2021, USFWS 1999). As of 2021 the range is about 90 square kilometers (NatureServe Network Database as of March 2021).
Occurrences CommentsThelypodium howellii ssp. spectabilis is currently known from eight sites (NatureServe Network Database as of March 2021), which together are in five populations (USFWS 2002).
Threat Impact CommentsThelypodium howellii ssp. spectabilis is highly threatened by habitat destruction, cattle grazing (especially in spring and early summer), invasive exotic plants, agriculture, and use of herbicides or mowing during the growing season. Late season grazing may have some benefits for Thelypodium howellii ssp. spectabilis by reducing competition from other plants (USFWS 2010).
Ecology & Habitat
Description
Tallish (0.1-.8 m high), biennial to short lived perennial (occasionally blooming the first year), usually branched, with obvious, clasping (auriculate) stem leaves and large, bright pink-purple flowers (spathulate petals about 1 cm long).
Habitat
Thelypodium howellii ssp. spectabilis is known from desert shrub communities, alkaline ground (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2010). It may be dependent on periodic spring flooding since it appears to colonize areas adjacent to streams that have flooded. Thelypody is found in and around woody shrubs, on knolls, and on seasonally moist saline terraces along the edge of wet meadow habitat between the knolls (Kagan 1986, USFWS 2002). Sites range from approximately 1000 meters (3000 feet) to 1100 meters (3500 feet) in elevation (USFWS 2002). Associated plant species include greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus), green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus), Great Basin wildrye (Elymus cinereus), alkali saltgrass (Distichlis stricta), and alkali bluegrass (Poa juncifolia). Non-native species such as tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum), clasping pepperweed (Lepidium perfoliatum), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and thistles (Cirsium spp.) may also be found in or adjacent to thelypody habitat (USFWS 2002).
Terrestrial HabitatsShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|
| Oregon | S1 | Yes |
Plant Characteristics
DurationBIENNIAL, PERENNIAL, Short-lived
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Idaho (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|
| Bear Creek | Caribou-Targhee National Forest | 118,582 |
References (9)
- 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.
- Kagan, J. S. 1986. Status report for <i>Thelypodium howellii subsp. spectabilis</i>. Oregon Natural Heritage Data Base, The Nature Conservancy, Portland. 32 pp. + appendices.
- 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.
- Peck, M.E. 1961. A manual of the higher plants of Oregon. 2nd edition. Binsford & Mort, Portland, Oregon. 936 pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2002. Recovery Plan for Howell’s Spectacular Thelypody (<i>Thelypodium howellii </i>ssp. <i>spectabilis</i>). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. 47 pp
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1999. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; Threatened status for the plant <i>Thelypodium howellii </i>ssp. <i>spectabilis </i>(Howell's spectacular thelypody). Federal Register 64(101):28393-28403.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1999. Final Rule: Threatened status for the plant <i>Thelypodium howellii </i>ssp. <i>spectabilis </i>(Howell's spectacular thelypody). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Snake River Basin Office. Federal Register 64(101): 28393-28402.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2010. 5-Year Review: Howell's spectacular thelypody (<i>Thelypodium howellii</i> ssp. <i>spectabilis</i>). U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office. Portland, Oregon. March 9, 2010.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2022. Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 167 Species in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Notice of initiation of reviews; request for information. Federal Register 87(90): 28031-28034.