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Thelesperma megapotamicum

(Spreng.) Kuntze

Hopi-tea

G5Secure Found in 20 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.136565
Element CodePDAST98070
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusThelesperma
Synonyms
Thelesperma gracile(Torr.) Gray
Other Common Names
Hopi tea greenthread (EN) Hopi-tea Greenthread (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 Date2023-05-31
Change Date1994-02-01
Edition Date2023-06-01
Edition AuthorsEberly (2023)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Thelesperma megapotamicum is a wide ranging perennial herb occurring across the central United States but also occurs in Mexico and several countries in South America. With a large range extent, over 300 occurrences, abundant habitat, flexible habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Thelesperma megapotamicum occurs in North (central USA), Central (Chihuahua in Coahuila in Mexico), and South America (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) (FNA 2006c). This species is exotic in California, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Michigan. In some states it was introduced in seed mix and persists at those planted sites, but in other areas, like California, it has escaped intentional plantings (Jepson Flora Project 2023, S. Namestnik, pers. comm., 2023, W. Smith, pers. comm., 2023).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium collections and photo-based observations made between 1992 and 2023, it is estimated that there are over 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species grows on clays or sands or rocky soils, of disturbed places, like roadsides, prairies, yellow-pine forests, oak/juniper woodlands, and desert grassland and scrub, at elevations ranging from 300 to 2,900 meters (FNA 2006c).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedGrassland/herbaceousDesert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
MinnesotaSNANo
CaliforniaSNANo
UtahS2Yes
New MexicoSNRYes
NebraskaSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
IllinoisSNANo
KansasSNRYes
ColoradoS4Yes
TexasS5Yes
WyomingS4Yes
South DakotaS3Yes
MichiganSNANo
ArizonaSNRYes
ArkansasSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (20)
Arizona (2)
AreaForestAcres
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
New Mexico (17)
AreaForestAcres
Bull CanyonCarson National Forest11,512
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
El InviernoSanta Fe National Forest29,927
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Guaje CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,104
Juan de Gabaldon GrantSanta Fe National Forest8,023
LemitasSanta Fe National Forest8,129
Little Dog And Pup CanyonsLincoln National Forest25,412
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
Madre MountainCibola National Forest19,839
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
RendijaSanta Fe National Forest2,176
Sierra Negra Rare II Study AreaCarson National Forest9,470
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
Thompson PeakSanta Fe National Forest33,001
Virgin CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,068
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
References (7)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006c. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 21. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 8: Asteraceae, part 3. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 616 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2023. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2023).
  3. iNaturalist. 2023. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2023).
  4. Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2023. Jepson eFlora. Online. Available: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ (accessed 2023).
  5. 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.
  6. Namestnik, Scott. Personal Communication. Botanist. Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Indianapolis, Indiana.
  7. Smith, Welby R. Personal communication. Botanist, Minnesota Natural Heritage Program, Minnesota Dept. Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN.