 |
Conserving and restoring
America's native plants |
|
CPC National Collection Plant Profile
|
|
|
Delphinium bakeri
| Family: |
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) |
| Common Name: |
Baker's Larkspur |
| Author: |
Ewan |
| Growth
Habit: |
Perennial |
| CPC
Number: |
1375 |
|
| |
| Primary
custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered
Plants is: |
| |
Delphinium bakeri
|
Baker’s larkspur remains as a single small population along a roadside in Marin County, California, not far from the Pacific coast. This perennial herb grows erect to 45 cm. tall; and features blue flowers in the spring. It was formerly more common in the coastal area, north into Sonoma County, but has been extirpated in all previous locations by land conversion to agricultural purposes.
| Distribution
& Occurrence |
|
State Range
Habitat
| |
Baker’s larkspur grows on a shallow veneer of soil over decomposing slate with other mesic-loving perennials and shrubs such as Trillium chloropetalum, Heuchera pacifica, Holodiscus discolor, and Rubus ursinus on a north-facing rocky slope. |
Distribution
| |
Marin County, California. |
Number Left
| |
The single population fluctuates from year to year, but on average, there are about 30 flowering individuals and up to 50 more plants that are immature. One ex situ population is grown at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Berkeley, California. |
State/Area
Protection
| |
State/Area |
Rank |
Status |
Date |
|
| |
California |
S1.1 |
3 |
9/1/1979 |
|
| Conservation,
Ecology & Research |
|
Ecological
Relationships
| |
Plants are easily grown in cultivation.
Pollination is by bumblebees and hummingbirds
Baker’s larkspur is self-compatible, but requires visitation by pollinators for good seed set. |
Threats
| |
• Roadside maintenance
• Deer and rodent grazing
• Invasive plants
• Genetic bottleneck
• Collecting for horticultural purposes |
Current Research Summary
| |
The genetic variability within the population is the subject of a study being conducted by Dr. Jason Koontz and Holly Forbes. They plan to characterize the genetic variation within the population in order to guide the development of stock for reintroduction efforts. Partial funding for these efforts has been provided by the Genetic Resources Conservation Group at UC Davis, the UC Botanical Garden, and by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. |
Current Management Summary
| |
The population has been recorded by the Marin County Department of Public Works in order to prevent future damage by roadside maintenance (roadside bank mowing). Critical habitat was designated in 2003 (USFWS, 2003). A recovery plan is in development. |
Research Management Needs
| |
More information on the species’ life history, environmental requirements, and herbivory/seed predation will be needed to promote a successful reintroduction effort. |
Ex Situ Needs
| |
Seed collection of a genetically representative sample is being developed for long-term storage. |
|
| Books (Single Authors)
|
| |
| Kartesz, J.T. 1993. Species distribution data for vascular plants of 70 geographical areas, from unpublished data files at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. |
| |
| Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the U.S., Canada, and Greenland. Portland, OR: Timber Press. |
| |
| Kartesz, J.T. 1996. Species distribution data at state and province level for vascular plant taxa of the United States, Canada, and Greenland (accepted records), from unpublished data files at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. |
| |
| Books (Edited Volumes)
|
| |
| David P. Tibor, Convening Editor. 2001 Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (sixth edition). Sacramento, CA: California Native Plant Society. 388p. |
| |
| James C. Hickman, Editor. 1993 The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1400p. |
| |
| Electronic Sources
|
| |
| USFWS. Federal Register documents pertaining to Baker’s Larkspur. http://ecos.fws.gov. Accessed: 2004. |
| |
| Journal Articles
|
| |
| Ewan, J. 1942. The Genus Delphinium in North America: Series Echinatae of Subsection Subscaposa and Misc. Noteworthy Species. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 69, 2: 137. |
| |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2003. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Designation of Critical Habitat for Two Larkspurs From Coastal Northern California. Federal Register. 68, 52: 12834-12863. |
| |
| USFWS. 1997. Proposed endangered status for two larkspurs from coastal northern California. Federal Register. 62, 118: 33383-33387. |
| |
| Warnock, M.J. 1990. Taxonomic and Ecological Review of California Delphinium. Collectanea Botanica. 19: 45-74. |
| |
| Reports
|
| |
| Dept. of Fish and Game. 1992. Annual Report on the Status of California State Listed Threatened and Endangered Animals and Plants. California: Dept. of Fish and Game. |
| |
|
