Home/Species/ Desert Whitlow-grass

Draba arida

C.L. Hitchc.

Desert Whitlow-grass

G2Imperiled Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G2ImperiledGlobal Rank

MediumThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.128552

Element CodePDBRA110B0

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single state or province

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderCapparales

FamilyBrassicaceae

GenusDraba

Other Common Names

desert draba (EN) Desert Draba (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 Date2021-10-07

Change Date1993-01-25

Edition Date2021-10-07

Edition AuthorsOliver, L.

Threat ImpactMedium

Range Extent250-5000 square km (about 100-2000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences6 - 20

Rank Reasons

Draba arida is known from approximately 19 occurrences in the Monitor, Toiyabe and Toquima ranges of central Nevada. Many occurrences have not been observed since the 1980s, and inventory is needed to determine if they are still extant. This taxon is threatened by climate change and is restricted to high elevations. This species may be locally abundant within its narrow range.

Range Extent Comments

Endemic to the Monitor, Toiyabe, and Toquima Ranges in south Lander and north Nye Counties, Nevada (Holmgren et al. 2005).

Threat Impact Comments

Climate change is a threat to this Great Basin endemic (Nevada Division of Natural Heritage 2021, Caicco et al. 2008).

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Alpine talus slopes, rock crevices and high meadows. Usually associated with limberpine (Pinus flexilis). Elevation ranges from 3000 to 3350 m.

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferGrassland/herbaceousAlpineBare rock/talus/scree

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN2

Province	Rank	Native
Nevada	S2	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
11 - Climate change & severe weather	Pervasive (71-100%)	Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline	High (continuing)

Plant Characteristics

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (3)

Nevada (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
Arc Dome - Ophir	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	5,652
Bunker Hill	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	27,569
Toiyabe Range	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	99,225

References (8)

Caicco, S., F. Edwards, and J. Bair. 2008. Vulnerability of the rarest plants in the Great Basin of Nevada to climate change. Poster at "Effects of Climate Change on Fish, Wildlife, and Habitats in the Arid and Semiarid Southwestern United States: Putting Knowledge and Science into Action" Workshop, Tucson, Arizona, August 19-20, 2008. Online. Available: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/Climatechange/poster%20pdfs/GreatBasinRarePlantPoster_Caiccoetal.pdf
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.
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.
Kartesz, J.T. 1988. A flora of Nevada. Ph.D. dissertation. Univ. of Nevada, Reno. 3 volumes. 1729 pp.
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.
NatureServe. 2021. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
Nevada Division of Natural Heritage. 2021. At-risk plant and animal tracking list, July 2021. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Carson City, Nevada. Accessed online at: https://heritage.nv.gov/assets/documents/2021-07_Track_List.pdf
Wilson, C.A. ND. Status report for Draba arida. Unpublished report. 4 pp.

Draba arida

Habitat

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