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Chlorocrambe hastata

(S. Wats.) Rydb.

Spearhead

G2Imperiled Found in 12 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.128256
Element CodePDBRA0P010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCapparales
FamilyBrassicaceae
GenusChlorocrambe
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 Date2023-02-08
Change Date2023-02-08
Edition Date2023-02-08
Edition AuthorsStoner, N., rev. K. Gravuer (2009), rev. Eberly (2023)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Chlorocrambe hastata is the only member of its genus in the mustard family. It is a perennial herb with a bimodal distribution, with occurrences in the mountains of northern Utah and northeastern Oregon and adjacent Idaho. The abundance of this species is not well known and the distribution not well mapped but it appears to be most common in Utah. Most herbarium collections occurred prior to 1983, over 40 years ago, including the only specimen from Idaho, collected in 1899. There is only one known occurrences in Oregon. This species has a distinctive appearance and not likely to be overlooked. Surveys are needed to better understand this species rarity, threats, and trends.
Range Extent Comments
Chlorocrambe hastata has a bimodal distribution, occurring in two quite disparate mountain groups: the Oquirrh, Stansbury, Uinta, and Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah, and from the Blue and Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon and adjacent Idaho (Rollins 1993, Holmgren et al. 2005, Welsh et al. 2008). It has been recorded in Cache, Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber counties in Utah and in Baker counties, Oregon and adjacent Washington County, Idaho. This species hasn't been documented in Idaho for over 100 years and the only collection was made in 1899 in Washington County (SEINet 2023).
Occurrences Comments
The number of occurrences were estimated at 17 based on a 1 km separation distance and using data observed after 1983. There may be additional occurrences. There is only one known occurrence in Oregon.
Threat Impact Comments
Threats to this species are unknown and surveys are needed to better understand it's status.
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Racemes are distinctive compared to other species in the Brassicaceae. On these much elongated flowering stems, the buds open long before flowers are available for pollination. Proceeding from the top of the raceme downward, the flower parts gradually increase in size in the opened buds until full readiness for pollination (including pollen shedding) is achieved. The flower parts are in various stages of growth for a distance of 10 cm or more along the flowering stem. In most other species in this family. flowers are available for pollination very soon after opening. Furthermore, the individual flower stalks are bent downward at first and then become widely spreading and slightly curved upward in fruit. In most other species in this family, the individual flower stalks are curved upward in flower then become bent downward in fruit (Rollins 1993).

Habitat

This species occurs in moderately moist rocky places in the mountains, on hillsides, slopes, and canyons. It is often in heavily vegetated, brushy areas such as damp alder thickets, where plants tend to grow in rich humus in deep shade. Sites are located within mountain brush, aspen, white fir, Douglas fir, and spruce-fir plant communities. In Utah, it occurs at elevations between 1,800 and 3,050 m.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodForest - ConiferShrubland/chaparral
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS1Yes
UtahS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (12)
Utah (12)
AreaForestAcres
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
GibsonWasatch-Cache National Forest5,350
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
References (9)
  1. Albee, B.J., L.M. Shultz, and S. Goodrich. 1988. Atlas of the vascular plants of Utah. Utah Museum Natural History Occasional Publication 7, Salt Lake City, Utah. 670 pp.
  2. 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.
  3. Holmgren, N.H., P.K. Holmgren, and A. Cronquist. 2005. Intermountain flora. Volume 2, part B. Subclass Dilleniidae. The New York Botanical Garden Press. 488 pages.
  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. Peck, M.E. 1961. A manual of the higher plants of Oregon. 2nd edition. Binsford & Mort, Portland, Oregon. 936 pp.
  6. Rollins, R.C. 1993a. The Cruciferae of continental North America: Systematics of the mustard family from the Arctic to Panama. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, California. 976 pp.
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2023. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2023).
  8. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, L.C. Higgins, and S. Goodrich, eds. 1987. A Utah Flora. Great Basin Naturalist Memoir 9: 1- 894. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. 894 pp.
  9. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich and L.C. Higgins. (Eds.) 2008. A Utah Flora. 4th edition, revised. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, U.S.A. 1019 pp.