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Abies bracteata

(D. Don) D. Don ex Poit.

Bristlecone Fir

G2Imperiled (G2G3) Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
Near threatenedIUCN
High - mediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.138821
Element CodePGPIN01030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNNear threatened
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumConiferophyta
ClassPinopsida
OrderPinales
FamilyPinaceae
GenusAbies
Other Common Names
bristlecone fir (EN) Santa Lucia Fir (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 MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2017-10-18
Change Date2017-03-07
Edition Date2018-05-23
Edition AuthorsMorse, Larry E. (1996), L. Oliver rev. (2003), rev. Bittman (2017), rev. Treher (2018)
Threat ImpactHigh - medium
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Abies bracteata is endemic to the Santa Lucia Mountains of California. There are eighty known occurrences, but one is extirpated. The species is threatened by an increasing risk of fire.. This species tends to have poor regeneration rates and has a late age of reproduction, which can make recovery with increased fire frequency challenging.
Range Extent Comments
Abies bracteata is endemic to California and known only from the Santa Lucia mountains along the south-central California coast (Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties).
Occurrences Comments
There are eighty occurrences but one is extirpated.
Threat Impact Comments
Potential threats to Abies bracteata include inappropriate fire regime and roads. This species occurs in areas that are not typically at risk of fire and it is not tolerant of fire but it is thought that fuel loads are increasing in some areas due to dieback of oaks (Sudden Oak Death), putting this species at greater risk of fire. Threats to this species are exasperated due to the species late age of reproduction and poor regeneration rates. The species seeds are are parasitized by chalcid wasps which can effect the viability of a large portion of the seed crop in some years (Rogers 1998).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Rocky, lower montane coniferous forest at 210-1600 m elevation.

Ecology

Species has thin bark and foliage that extends close to the base of the tree (Rogers 1998).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - Conifer
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
4 - Transportation & service corridorsUnknownUnknownUnknown
4.1 - Roads & railroadsUnknownUnknownUnknown
7 - Natural system modificationsPervasive - largeSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionPervasive - largeSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
7.1.1 - Increase in fire frequency/intensityPervasive - largeSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived, EVERGREEN
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (3)
California (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Chalk PeakLos Padres National Forest7,472
References (9)
  1. California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2001. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (sixth edition). Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee, David P. Tibor, Convening Editor. California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. x + 388pp.
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1993a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 2. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xvi + 475 pp.
  3. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  4. 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.
  5. Little, E.L., Jr. 1971. Atlas of the United States trees. Vol. I. Conifers and important hardwoods. Miscellaneous Publication No. 1146. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 200 pp.
  6. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.
  7. Munz, P.A., and D.D. Keck. 1973. A California Flora and Supplement. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1905 pp.
  8. Rogers, D. 1998. Perfect pattern of silvan perfection on the symmetrical plan, the rare Santa Lucia Fir. The Double-Cone Quarterly 1(2). Online: <a href="http://www.ventanawild.org/news/fe98/slfirs.html">http://www.ventanawild.org/news/fe98/slfirs.html</a>. Accessed 18 Oct 2017.
  9. Skinner, M.W., and B.M. Pavlik, eds. 1997 (1994). Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 1997 Electronic Inventory Update of 1994 5th edition, California Native Plant Society, Special Publication No. 1, Sacramento.