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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

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Greg Wieland

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Lesquerella pallida

Family:	Brassicaceae
Common Name:	white bladderpod
Author:	(Torr. & Gray) S. Wats.
Growth Habit:	Annual
CPC Number:	2510

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Photographer: Greg Wieland

Lesquerella pallida is Fully Sponsored

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

Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens

Dave Berkshire contributed to this Plant Profile.

Lesquerella pallida

The White bladderpod, a member of the Brassicaceae or Mustard Family, was first discovered on prairies within an unusual geological region called the Weches formation near San Augustine, Texas in the 1830's by M.C. Leavenworth but was not noticed again until 1981 by Nixon and Ward. White Bladderpod and Leavenworthia texana, the Texas Golden Glade Cress, are unique or endemic to the Weches formation (George and Nixon 1990). The bladderpod, a winter annual that overwinters as a tap-rooted, leafy rosette, reaches a maximum height of two feet as an erect plant or may be spreading. The white flowers appear in April and May and are composed of four one-half inch long petals. White Bladderpod produces pea shaped "bladderpods" that enclose seeds before dying as its harsh habitat dries in the summer heat. Seed set occurs from late May to early June.

The fine oil contained in the "bladderpods" of other Lesquerella spp. is being studied for potential industrial and cosmetic use.

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

Texas

Habitat

Occurs within oak-hickory-pine forests within the Pineywoods of the Coastal Plain region of East Texas. L. pallida is found within these forests on rocky outcrops of an unusual geological region called the Weches formation. The Weches formation is a band of ancient marine sediments that lies parallel to the Gulf Coast from Sabine to Frio Counties. In East Texas, these alkaline "islands" of soil contrast the surrounding acid soils in this region of the Pineywoods. The thin top layer of these alkaline sediments contains fossilized calcium, potassium and magnesium-containing marine shells and covers a layer of grayish-green impermeable glauconite clay that oxidizes to a reddish-brown color. This clay traps water and remains saturated during rainy periods and becomes very dry during the heat of the summer. The soils of the Weches outcrops are of the Trawick and Nacogdoches series (R. Turner 2001).

Rare East Texas plants found in Weches outcrops include Sedum pulchellum, Calylophus drummondianus, Liatris mucronata, Paranychia virginica, Petalostemum pulcherrimum, Heliotropium tenellum, Eleocharis compressa and Cuphea viscosissima (George and Nixon 1990; Correll and Johnston 1970; Berkshire 1998). Other plants found as companions to L. pallida may include: Asclepias verticillata, Boerhaavia erecta, Calylophus berlandieri ssp. berlandieri, Cahamaecrista fasciculata, Cuphea viscosissima, Dracopsis amplexicaulis, Erigeron strigosus, Galactia volubilis, Mirabilis collina, Modiola caroliniana, Monarda citriodora, Oxalis dillenii, Palafoxia rosea, Polanisia dodecandra ssp. trachysperma, Polanisia erosa var. erosa, Portulaca oleracea, Sabatia campestris, Solanum carolinense, Stachys crenata, Triodanis perfoliata and Verbena haleiand others (Correll and Johnston 1970; Berkshire 1998). Woody species common to the deeper soil strata of the Weches outcrops include Gleditsia triacanthos, Liquidambar styraciflua, Rosa bracteata, Juniperus virginiana, Forestiera ligustrina, Rhamnus lanceolata, Cornus drummondii and Cissus incisa (George and Nixon 1990).

Distribution

Found only on the Weches Outcrops of San Augustine County, TX.

Number Left

Occurs at 6 sites with a total annual crop of ~3,000 to 15,000 individuals, with numbers varying according to climatic conditions. Over 16,000 individuals were found in 2000 and 2001 field surveys (Turner 2001). The sites are unprotected populations.

Protection

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Global Rank:	G1	1/16/2002	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	LE	4/11/1987	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	Yes	10/16/1992

State/Area Protection

	State/Area	Rank	Status	Date

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

As a winter annual, Lesquerella pallida is well-adapted to its unique habitat on the Weches formation, however, it is intolerant of competition. This species is most successful in relatively deep, bare soils with sparse herbaceous ground cover (Turner 2001). It will not grow under a closed forest canopy or on sites with a deep litter layer. It appears to be pollinated by a variety of small insects from the orders Diptera and Hymenoptera (Turner 2001).

Threats

� Open pit mining of glauconite for road surface material ("green rock") is the most severe and permanently destructive threat to White Bladderpod habitat (Turner 2001).
Also extremely vulnerable to:
� Trampling, overgrazing, herbicides for treatment of brush in pasturelands.
� Private development of population sites or potential habitats.
� Sensitive to public land use including county road right-of-way grading, mowing and stockpiling of building materials.
� Fire suppression is a major threat, allowing the encroachment of woody vegetation onto the outcrops. Exotics including the Macartney Rose, Rosa bracteata, and Japanese Honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica along with native woody species are threats (USFWS 1987).

Current Research Summary

� Germinations studies were completed at Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in 1993. (Wieland 1995)
� Plants have consistently reseeded in Mercer's Endangered Species Garden since 1993 and are on display for the public.
� Plants maintained at Mercer thrive on garden soil and may indicate a broader adaptability to soil types.
� Mercer and the National Seed Storage Laboratory in Ft. Collins, CO maintain seed banks for this species.

Current Management Summary

� The Texas Natural Heritage Program conducted surveys for L. pallida from 1983-1988, eventually discovering two new locations in the spring of 1988. (USFWS 1992)

Research Management Needs

� Basic biological/ecological studies of the plant to identify habitat requirements for reintroductions.
� Selection of reintroduction sites maintenance of suitable sites.
� Encourage landowners to preserve existing populations.
� Controlled burns and targeted herbicide treatments limited to July-October should be conducted wherever possible.
� Selected logging around populations to increase its range with concurrent management of competitive vegetation.
� Controlled grazing may be utilized to suppress competing vegetation where possible.
� Surveys for unknown populations.
� Continue monitoring sites.

Monitoring Efforts

Not Available

Ex Situ Needs

� Expansion of seed bank.
� Continued selection of potential reintroduction sites.

References

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Books (Single Authors)

Poole, J.M.; Riskind, D.H. 1987. Endangered, threatened, or protected native plants of Texas. Austin, TX: Texas Parks Wildlife Department.

Rollins, R.C.; Shaw, E.A. 1973. The genus Lesquerella (Cruciferae) in North America. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 288p.

Torrey, J.; Gray, A. 1838. A Flora of North America 1:101. New York: Wiley and Putman.

Torrey, J.; Gray, A. 1840. A Flora of North America. Supplement. Additions and Amendations 1:668. New York: Wiley and Putnam.

Electronic Sources

(2002). Texas Threatened and Endangered Plants--Profiles. Texas Parks and Wildlife. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/endang/plants/index.htm. Accessed: 2002.

(2002). Threatened and Endangered Species Profiles. Texas Parks and Wildlife. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/wildlife_habitat/species_profiles/plants/index.htm. Accessed: 2002.

SFA. (2002). Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants. Stephen F. Austin State University, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX. http://www.sfasu.edu/AG/arboretum/pnpc/rrr/Gaillardia%20aestivalis.htm. Accessed: 2002.

Tiller, A.A. (2001). The Rare White Bladderpod. Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens. http://www.cp4.hctx.net/mercer/mpbladderpod.htm. Accessed: 2002.

Journal Articles

George, R.J.; Nixon, E.S. 1990. The herbaceous flora of three Weches formation outcrops in Eastern Texas. SIDA. 14, 1: 117-127.

Nixon, E.S.; Ward, J.R.; Lipscomb, B.L. 1983. Rediscovery of Lesquerella pallida (Cruciferae). Sida. 10: 167-175.

Sletto, J.W. 1991. Plants in Peril. Outdoor America. 21-24.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 1994. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. XlX, 5

USFWS. 1986. 18 Plants Proposed for Listing Protection. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 11, 5: 1-13.

USFWS. 1987. Determination of endangered status for Lesquerella pallida (white bladderpod). Federal Register. 52, 47: 7424-7426.

Newspaper Articles

1996 May 19, 1996. Pod protector: Farmer makes it his business to protect plant. Joplin Globe;

Hilts, Philip J. 1988 Tuesday, December 6. U.S. Faces Big Loss of Plant Species: Botanists Consider Emergency Measures. The Washington Post; Washington, D.C.

Shabecoff, Philip. 1988 Tuesday, December 6. Survey Finds Native Plants in Imminent Peril. The New York Times; New York, NY. Science Times.

Personal Communications

Turner, R. 2001. Personal communication to Anita Tiller at Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens.

Reports

Berkshire, D.C. 1998. Unpublished document. Prepared for Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens.

Bridges, E.L. 1988. Endangered Species Information System White Bladderpod (Lesquerella pallida). Alburquerque, New Mexico: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2.

Mahler, W.F. 1985. Status report update, Lesquerella pallida (T. & G.) Wats. Albuquerque, New Mexico: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Nemec, K. 1996. 1995-1996. White Bladderpod Conservation Efforts. Houston, TX: Ecological Services Clear Lake Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nixon, E.S. 1984. Status report on Lesquerella pallida. Albuquerque, New Mexico: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

USFWS. 1992. White Bladderpod (Lesquerella pallida) Recovery Plan. Albuquerque, New Mexico: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.22.

Warnock, M.J. 1992. Study of Lesquerella pallida (White Bladderpod) during the 1992 field season, and summary of 1990-1992 studies. Austin, Texas: Texas parks and Wildlife Department. p.11.

Wieland, Greg. 1995. Lesquerella pallida Germination Studies. Houston, TX: Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. p.3. Draft.

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This profile was updated on 3/4/2010