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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris

Family:	Scrophulariaceae
Common Names:	North Coast bird's-beak, Point Reyes bird's beak, salt marsh bird's-beak
Author:	(Behr) Chuang & Heckard
Growth Habit:	Forb/herb
CPC Number:	1055

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Photographer: Tom Kaye
tom[at]appliedeco.org

Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris is Not Sponsored

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

Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank & Plant Conservation Program

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D. contributed to this Plant Profile.

Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris

The Point Reyes bird's-beak (Codylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris) is only found on the coastal beaches of northern California and Oregon. It was once found from Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County, California (about 200 miles south of San Francisco) to as far north as Tillamook County, Oregon. It is now found in scattered salt marshes from San Francisco Bay, CA to Tillamook County, OR, however, most populations are clustered around Coos Bay, Oregon and Humboldt Bay, California. Of the remaining populations, most are dangerously small and occur on private land. Since they are found on private land, many populations will not be protected even if the Point Reyes bird's-beak receives state Endangered listing in Oregon.

Off Road Vehicle (ORV) use is the primary threat at it destroys Point Reyes bird's-beak's sensitive habitat. Off-road vehicles (ORV's) destroy plants and alter the habitat by creating deep ruts in the sand (see photo). Conservation of the few healthy populations in Oregon and Humboldt Bay, CA is critical to for the survival of this small annual.

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

California
Oregon

Habitat

Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris grows just above the high tide level in salt marshes scattered along the Pacific coast. It is found growing in a sandy substrate covered by a layer of organic silt with more than 70% vegetation cover. Associated species include: Salicornia virginica (Pickleweed), Polygonum Distichlis spicata (salt grass), and Jaumea carnosa (fleshy jaumea). The soil salinity is high, often 34-55 ppt (parts per thousand).

Distribution

OR: Beaches southern Oregon (Tillamook, Lincoln, and Coos Counties)
CA: Beaches of northern California

Number Left

� In Oregon as of 1991: 18 sites (Kaye 1991). Colony size ranged from 30 individuals to 500,000. At each site, Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris was found in dense patches or as well dispersed individuals. These patterns may be due to the patchy availability of suitable habitat and seed dispersal by water.

� In California as of 2001: 50 sites "presumed extant." However, many sites have not been visited since the early 1980's, so their current status is unknown. Population numbers range from a few to as many as 300,000 (CNDD 2001).

Protection

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Global Rank:	G4?T2	6/4/2001	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	SC		Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	No

State/Area Protection

State/Area	Rank	Status	Date
California	S2.2		7/1/2001
Oregon	S2	LE	7/12/1995

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris is an annual and reproduces only by seed. High levels of soil salinity inhibit seed germination. The seeds of the Point Reyes bird's-beak germinate between February and May after winter rains reduce the soil salinity to below 12 ppt (parts per thousand). Plants flower from June to mid-September (Brian 2001). Pollinators have not been observed. While plants may be visited during the night, it is more likely that they are primarily self-pollinated (Kaye 1991). Seeds are dispersed locally by shifting tides. It is unlikely that seeds are transported long distances (Brian 2001).

Point Reyes bird's-beak plants are hemiparasites. They derive some of their energy from photosynthesis but also acquire resources through underground root connections with other plants. Under favorable conditions in the greenhouse, the plants do not need a host to survive. However, in the wild, they probably do need a host. While salt marsh bird's beak appears to lack host specificity, its natural hosts are most likely Salicornia virginica, Distichlis, spicata, Limonium californicum, Deschapsia cespitosa, and Jaumea carnosa (Kaye et al. 1991). In a greenhouse environment Helianthus annuus is a successful host (Chuang and Heckard 1971). It is unknown how soon after germination the plant establishes a root-connection with the host. (Dunn 1987 on BLM web page & Kaye 1991).

Point Reyes bird's-beak flowers are white with a pink/purple lower lip and purplish-green foliage. Yellow-lipped flowers and green foliage are occasionally found. Scientists believe this trait difference is due to the suppression of purple pigment production (Mathis 2001).

Threats

� Draining and filling of marshes (Meinke 1982).
� Water Pollution (Meinke 1982) and oil spills (CNDD 2001).
� ORV use kills salt marsh vegetation including Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris and its host species. They also reduce vegetative cover, a habitat requirement for C. maritimus ssp. palustris (Kaye 1991). See the picture of tire tracks through the delicate habitat.
� Loss of habitat due to agriculture and urban development (BLM 2002).
� Cattle grazing (CNDD 2001).

Current Research Summary

� Inventory conducted in 1990 of suitable habitat. A total of 16 colonies were surveyed, 13 of these sites were previously unknown. Colony sizes ranged from 30 to 500,000 plants, with an average of 2,000 (Kaye et al. 1991).
� Habitat and ecological requirements of the species were studied to assist in future restoration activities. Distribution suggests that the species occupies sites with relatively high salinity (25-30 ppt), and that the specific location in marine estuaries is at the upper edge of low sandy marsh. Light disturbance with some open habitat facilitates establishment (Kaye 1991).
� Genetic analysis (using RAPD markers) of white and purple flowered populations found in Coos Bay Oregon to determine genetic variation within and between 6 populations was conducted by Victoria Mathis, a student at Gold Beach High School, Oregon. Her poster was presented at Northwest Scientific Association 2001 Annual Meetings held at Humboldt University, Arcata, CA.
� Flower dissection revealed that of Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus (a related species from southern California) is capable of self-fertilization. The pollen to ovule ratio is in the range expected for self-pollinating species. (Kaye 1991)
� Seeds of Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus (found in Southern California) require six weeks of cold storage and fresh water for germination (Kaye 1991).
� Yearly monitoring at Coos Bay site from 1993 to 2001 (at least) (Brian 2001).

Current Management Summary

� Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris is a Bureau of Land Management "Bureau Sensitive" species. No actions can be authorized, funded, or carried out by the BLM that will contribute to the need for the species to become listed (Brian 2001).
� An interagency conservation strategy was prepared in 1995 but not finalized for sites located in Coos Bay (Brian 2001).
� Barricades to redirect traffic and restrict ORV usage of the land have been erected at various sites (Brian 2001).
� Some sites in California fenced to exclude cattle grazing (CNDD 2001).
� Seed from 6 locations banked at The Berry Botanic Garden.

Research Management Needs

� Study the effect of oil spills on Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris in Oregon, since several oil spills have adversely affected California populations (Kaye et al. 1991).
� Monitor known populations to detect population trends (Kaye et al. 1991).
� Limit ORV use at known sites (Kaye et al. 1991).
� Determine if Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris can re-colonize disturbed areas (Rittenhouse 1999).
� Distribute seeds to nearby areas of suitable habitat as seeds do not travel long distances on their own (Brian 2001).
� Reintroduce seeds to areas where the species has been extirpated or to other sites where habitat is suitable (Brian 2001).

Ex Situ Needs

� Collect and store seeds from across the range.
� Determine optimal germination procedures.
� Determine propagation and reintroduction protocols.

References

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Books (Single Authors)

Abrams, L.; Ferris, R.S. 1944. Illustrated Flora of the Pacific States: Washington, Oregon, and California. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Eastman, D.C. 1990. Rare and Endangered Plants of Oregon. Beautiful America Publishing Company. 194p.

Grenier, K. 1991. Handbook to the Sensitive Plants of the Siuslaw National Forest. Corvallis, Oregon: Siuslaw National Forest. 106p.

Meinke, R.J. 1982. Threatened and Endangered Vascular Plants of Oregon: An Illustrated Guide. Portland, Oregon: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 1. 326p.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A flora of southern California. Berkeley: Univ. California Press. 1086p.

Munz, P.A.; Keck, D.D. 1959. A California flora. Berkeley, CA: Univ. California Press. 1681p.

Nakamura, Gary; Kierstead Nelson, J. 2001. Illustrated Field Guide to Selected Rare Plants of Northern California. University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Publication 3395. 370p.

ONHP. 2001. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants and Animals of Oregon.

Books (Sections)

Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the U.S., Canada, and Greenland. In: Kartesz, J.T.; Meacham, C.A., editors. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden. Chapel Hill, NC.

Books (Edited Volumes)

James C. Hickman, Editor. 1993 The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1400p.

Electronic Sources

(2000). CalFlora: on California plants for education, research and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: The CalFlora Database [a non-profit organization]. http://www.calflora.org/.. Accessed: 2002.

BLM. (2002). Rare and Unusual Plants. Bureau of Land Management-Oregon. http://www.or.blm.gov/coosbay/newriver/rare_plants.htm. Accessed: 2002.

CDFG. (2001). Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List. Biannual Publication, Mimeo. 141 pp. California Department of Fish and Game, Natural Diversity Database. Accessed: 2001.

CNDDB. (2000). Calfornia Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB). Version 2.1.2. California Natural Diversity Database. Accessed: California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.

ONHDB. (2000). Oregon Natural Heritage Program Database. Portland, Oregon.

Wood, M. (1996 (ongoing)). Focus on Rarities. [Web site] Yerba Buena Chapter, California Native Plant Society. http://www.cnps-yerbabuena.org/. Accessed: 2002.

Journal Articles

Chuang, T.I.; Heckerd, L.R. 1971. Observations of root-parasitism in Cordylanthus (Scrophulariaceae). American Journal of Botany. 58: 218-228.

Chuang, T.I.; Heckerd, L.R. 1972. Seed coat morphology in Cordylanthus (Scrophulariaceae) and its taxonomic significance. American Journal of Botany. 59: 258-265.

Chuang, T.I.; Heckerd, L.R. 1973. Taxonomy of Cordylanthus subgenus Hemistegia (Scrophulariaceae) (Original Publication). Brittonia. 25: 135-158.

Helenurm, K.; Parsons, L.S. 1997. Genetic variation and the reintroduction of Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus to Sweetwater Marsh, California. Restoration Ecology. 5, 3: 236-244.

Parsons, L.S.; Zedler, J.B. 1997. Factors affecting reestablishment of an endangered annual plant at a California salt marsh. Ecological Applications. 7, 1: 253-267.

USFWS. 1978. Final Rulemakings: Five Western Plants Listed as Endangered. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 3, 10: 10.

Reports

Brian, N. 2001. 2001 monitoring report of Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris (the Point Reyes Bird's-Beak) at the North Spit, Coos Bay, Oregon. Unpublished report. Bureau of Land Management, Boos Bay District Office. p.35.

Kaye, T. 1991. Population Monitoring and Habitat Analysis for Salt Marsh Bird's Beak, Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris. Challenge Cost Share Project funded jointly by the Bureau of Land Management, Coos Bay District and the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Plant Conservation Biology Program. Unpublished Report. p.40.

Kaye, T.N. 1992. Population Monitoring for Salt Marsh Bird's Beak, Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris, Second Year Summary. Challenge Cost Share Project funded jointly by the Bureau of Land Management, Coos Bay District and the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Plant Conservation Biology Program. Unpublished Report. p.33.

Kaye, T.N.; Meinke, B.; Massey, S.; Frenkel, R. 1991. Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris inventory and habitat analysis. Cooperative Challenge cost Share Project funded jointly by BLM and Oregon Department of Agriculture, 90-2. Unpublished report on file at ODA. p.40.

Mathis, V. 2001. Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in salt marsh bird's beak from Coos Bay, Oregon. Abstracts with Program, 2001 Oregon Junior Academy of Science, Western Oregon University.

Rittenhouse, B. 1999. Status of Salt Marsh Bird's-Beak (Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris) in the Coos Bay Estuary. Report prepared by the Coos Bay Bureau of Land Management.

Sanguamphai. 1989. 1988 Annual Report on the Status of California's State Listed Threatened and Endangered Plants and Animals. State of California, Department of Fish and Game.

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This profile was updated on 7/8/2010