National Collection of Imperiled Plants

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Photographer:

Richard Brock

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus

Family:	Boraginaceae
Common Names:	coral seeded allocarya, coral-seeded allocarya, fragrant popcornflower
Author:	P.f. (Piper) I.M Johnst. ex M.E. Peck ssp c (Piper) Chambers
Growth Habit:	Annual
CPC Number:	14006

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Photographer: Richard Brock

Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus is Not Sponsored

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

The Berry Botanic Garden

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

Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus

Plagiobothrys figuratus is a common and widespread plant found from Vancouver, British Columbia to southwestern Oregon. The more localized Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus is found at only 18 sites within a small area in the Middle Rogue River Basin and the Jenny Creek watershed in southwest Oregon. It is often hard to tell closely related Plagiobothrys species apart, and one needs the mature nutlet (fruit) in order to differentiate them. This has made it very difficult to survey for P. figuratus ssp. corallicarpus as it is easily confused with more common species. Perhaps for this reason, this species was once thought extinct. It was first collected and described in the early 1920's, but no collections were made from 1946 until its rediscovery in 1991 (Brock 1993). Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus is distinguished from nearby, related species by its large flowers (8-11mm wide), deeply ridged nutlets and a small attachment scars on the nutlets.

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

Oregon

Habitat

Vernal pool habitats in rocky, open areas in grassland meadows. The areas are wet in spring but very dry in summer (Knight and Seevers 1992).

Distribution

OR: Klamath Mountains, West Cascades & Crest near Grant's Pass in Josephine County and Medford in Jackson County.

Number Left

Approximately 18 sites. Populations range from as few as 11-50 individuals to as many as 1,000-10,000. One population is on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and one is on city land while the remainder are on private land (ONHDB 2000).

Protection

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Global Rank:	G4T1	7/9/2007	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	SC		Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	No

State/Area Protection

State/Area	Rank	Status	Date

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

Plagiobothrys figuratus spp. corallicarpus grows in seasonal wetlands. The areas are usually inundated by water in the winter and spring and dry in the summer (Knight and Seevers 1992). Plants that grow here are specifically adapted to these highly variable habitat conditions.

Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus has white flowers that are much larger than those of other closely related Plagiobothrys species. Flowers emerge between June and July (Knight and Seevers 1992) after the seasonal wetlands dry up.

Observations indicate that heavy grazing by cattle has a strong negative effect on Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus. Parcels of land that receive continuous grazing appear to have no P. figuratus spp. corallicarpus plants on them while adjacent properties that have little or no grazing contain vigorous populations (Brock 1993). It appears that populations are able to rebound or re-colonize an area when grazing is removed if there is a soil seed bank or nearby seed source (Brock 1993).

Threats

� Most sites (all but 2) are on private land and therefore would not be protected if this species were to be listed federally (ONHDB 2000).
� Cattle grazing (Brock 1993).
� Changes in local hydrology by re-channeling or removal of water from seasonal springs (Brock 1993).

Current Research Summary

� Extensive searches in 1993 over the entire range (Brock 1993).
� No formal research known.

Current Management Summary

� Seeds from 3 locations stored at the Berry Botanic Garden.

Research Management Needs

� Work with private property owners to conserve habitat.
� Reduce cattle grazing.
� Continue surveying private and public lands in order to determine the full extent of the species' range and accurate population numbers (Brock 1993).
� Determine longevity of seeds in soil seed bank.

Ex Situ Needs

� Collect and store seeds from across the species' range.
� Determine germination requirements.
� Determine propagation and reintroduction protocols.

References

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Books (Single Authors)

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

Scoggan, H.J. 1978. The Flora of Canada. National Museums of CA, Publications in Botany.

Welsh, S.L. 1974. Anderson's Flora of Alaska and Adjacent Parts of Canada. 724p.

Electronic Sources

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

Journal Articles

Chambers, K. 1989. Notes. Madro�o. 36, 4: 280-281.

Ingham, E.R.; Wilson, M.V. 1999. The mycorrhizal colonization of six wetland plant species at sites differing in land use history. Mycorrhiza. 9, 4: 233-235.

Reports

Brock, R. 1993. Reconnaissance Survey for Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus. Unpublished Report. Medfrod District Bureau of Land Management and Siskiyou chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon. p.10.

Knight, L.; Seevers, J. 1992. Special Status Plants of the Medford District BLM. Medford, Oregon: Bureau of Land Management-Medford District. p.228.

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This profile was updated on 7/8/2010