National Collection of Imperiled Plants

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Photographer:

Lynda Pritchett-Kozak

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Macroptilium supinum

Family:	Fabaceae
Common Name:	supine bean
Growth Habit:	Forb/herb, Vine
CPC Number:	3382

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Photographer: Lynda Pritchett-Kozak

Macroptilium supinum is Not Sponsored

Primary custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered Plants is:

Desert Botanical Garden

Kathleen C. Rice contributed to this Plant Profile.

Macroptilium supinum

Macroptilium supinum, a perennial herb, is found in grass woodlands in Arizona and Mexico (Toolin 1982). This species has an unusual breeding syndrome. Flower and seed production occur both above and below ground. Below ground flowers remain closed and are obligate selfers (Buhrow 1983), not requiring pollinator services . Oddly, most seeds are produced in this manner, potentially acting as an inherent preplanting mechanism.

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

Arizona
Utah

Habitat

Plants prefer grassland and oak woodland habitats, which are threatened by overgrazing, off-road activity, development and reservoir construction (Pena Blanca Lake) (USFWS 1980).

Distribution

The type locality for Macroptilium supinum is located 19 miles N of La Colorada, Mexico. The entire range of M. supinum ranges from Sonora and Nayarit north into Santa Cruz County, Arizona (Toolin 1980, 1982; USFWS 1995).

Number Left

The total known U.S. population consists of approximately 1000 plants (Toolin 1982, Gori et al. 1990).

Protection

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Global Rank:	G2	1/20/1999	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:		2/28/1992	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	No

State/Area Protection

State/Area	Rank	Status	Date
Arizona	S1		8/1/2002
Sonora	S1		7/8/1992

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

Unknown.

Threats

Predation by rodents and grazing by cattle are the primary threats to this highly palatable species (USFWS 1980, Toolin 1980, 1982). Habitat degradation caused by grazing is a secondary threat (Toolin 1982).

Current Research Summary

Desert Botanical Garden has only 116 seeds of Macroptilium supinum from two populations. Twelve plants were produced from a germination test using 25 seeds. The initial germination percentage was 88%, but some seedlings were lost due to damping off. Plants were placed in a greenhouse and were gradually nibbled away by an unknown animal, even in the greenhouse. A related species, M. atropurpureum, was grown from seed and plants were transplanted into the ground. Within 24 hours, the plants and caudexes were gone, presumably eaten by ground squirrels. (Desert Botanical Gardens 2000)

Current Management Summary

Populations are monitored.

Research Management Needs

A management plan controlling grazing would be useful. Fire ecology may be a useful management tool, but research is needed. Research needs include understanding seedling establishment and recruitment.

Ex Situ Needs

References

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Electronic Sources

(2000). Center for Plant Conservation's National Living Collection--Profiles. Desert Botanical Garden. http://www.dbg.org/Collections/cpc.html. Accessed: 2002.

Journal Articles

Buhrow, R. 1983. The Wild Beans of Southwestern North America. Desert Plants. 5, 2: 67-71.

Delgado-Salinas A.; Torres-Colin, L. 1995. A new combination in Macroptilium (Fabaceae). Anales del Instituto de Biologia Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Serie Botanica. 66, 2: 189-191.

Rollins, W. 1943. Contrib. Dudley Herbarium. 30: 266-284.

Urban. 1928. Macroptilium Symb. Antill. 9: 457.

USFWS. 1980. Review of Plant Taxa Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species. Federal Register. 45, 242: 85206.

USFWS. 1995. Notice of Reclassification of 32 Candidate Species. Federal Register. 60, 126: 34225-34227.

Reports

Gori, D.F.; Warren, P.L.; Anderson, L.S. 1990. Population studies of sensitive plants of the Huachuca, Patagonia and Atacosa Mountains, Arizona. Tucson, AZ: Prepared by The Arizona Nature Conservancy and Submitted to Coronado National Forest in completion of P.O. No. 40-8197-0-0215.

Toolin, L.J. 1982. Status Report for Phaseolus supinus. Albuquerque, New Mexico: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Toolin, L.J. 1987. Status Report for Phaseolus supinus. Albuquerque, New Mexico: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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This profile was updated on 3/4/2010