Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Pumice Grapefern

Botrychium pumicola

Coville ex Underwood

Pumice Grapefern

G2Imperiled Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
High - mediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.146181
Element CodePPOPH010D0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumFilicinophyta
ClassOphioglossopsida
OrderOphioglossales
FamilyOphioglossaceae
GenusBotrychium
Other Common Names
Crater Lake grapefern (EN) Crater Lake Grapefern (EN) Pumice Moonwort (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 collection from Mt. Shasta (Calif.) has been identified as another Botrychium sp., however, another population has been found in California as of August 2008.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-01-09
Change Date2023-01-09
Edition Date2023-01-09
Edition AuthorsRoth, E., and C. Soper, rev. L. Kutner (4/94), rev. Vrilakas (1996), rev. L. Morse (1999), rev. G. Davis (2012), rev. Eberly (2023)
Threat ImpactHigh - medium
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Botrychium pumicola occurs in the Pacific Northwest of the United States in central and southern Oregon and northern California. It is found primarily on loose pumice gravel at high elevations and higher elevation alpine sites. Pumice gravels are easily disturbed and threatened by recreational use, timber harvest, and pumice mining. The impact of disturbance to this species is not well understood and needs study, but alarming declines in the populations on pumice gravel habitat have been observed. The smaller proportion of occurrences in the alpine zone appear to be stable.
Range Extent Comments
Botrychium pumicola occurs in the Pacific Northwest of the United States in central and southern Oregon and northern California. It is found in Paulina Mountains and the Crater Lake area of Oregon (Deschutes, Klamath, and Lake Counties) and in the vicinity of Mt. Shasta in California (Siskiyou County) (CNDDB 2023).
Occurrences Comments
Based on a one km separation distance, there are 86 occurrences in Oregon and one in California (OBIC 2022, NatureServe 2023).
Threat Impact Comments
This species is threatened by successional encroachment due to the suppression of fire, often long term, that has altered the habitat conditions through the build of plant litter, increased competition and shade (canopy closure). Some forestry practices like machine salvage timber harvesting and associated activities (slash piling, landing construction, and skid trail formation) move, churn and compact soils that can destroy Pumice Grapefern plants. Damage to plants can occur as a result of recreational activities (hiking, mountain biking, and off road vehicle use) which can also disturb soils. Habitat loss or degradation can occur as a result of the construction of buildings, roads, and trails. Long term drought may also impact the species.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

A small deciduous grape-fern, growing 3 to 8 1/2 inches tall (8-22 cm) with both sterile and fertile fronds. Sterile fronds grow upright,are leathery, stemless, small up to about 1 1/2 inches long (3.8 cm) and are divided into thirds then cut again, segments are roundish. Fertile fronds are larger than the sterile fronds, cut into a comb-like divisions and have spore baring structures that are round and yellow colored.

Habitat

This species grows in pumice gravel without humus at elevations above 2,400 m. It is usually on moderate to steep slopes. The sites where this species is found are deeply covered with snow in winter; bone dry in July and August.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferAlpineBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS2Yes
CaliforniaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
5 - Biological resource useLarge (31-70%)Extreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingLarge (31-70%)Extreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
5.3.4 - Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Large (31-70%)Extreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
7.1.2 - Suppression in fire frequency/intensityLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh - low
11.2 - DroughtsLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh - low

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
Oregon (2)
AreaForestAcres
North PaulinaDeschutes National Forest19,670
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
References (6)
  1. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2023. RareFind Version 5.2.14. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  2. 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.
  3. Lellinger, D.B. 1985. A field manual of the ferns and fern-allies of the U.S. and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. 389 pp.
  4. Meinke, R.J. 1982. Threatened and Endangered Vascular Plants of Oregon: An Illustrated Guide. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. 326 pp.
  5. Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (OBIC). 2022. Element Subnational Ranking Form: <i>Botrychium pumicola</i> in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia (accessed 3 Feb 2023).
  6. Vrilakas, Sue. Personal Communication. Data manager and botanist. Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, Institute for Natural Resources, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon.