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Conserving and restoring
America's native plants |
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CPC National Collection Plant Profile
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Lesquerella perforata
| Family: |
Brassicaceae (Mustard or Crucifer Family) |
| Common Name: |
Spring Creek bladderpod |
| Taxon Synonym: |
Paysonia perforata |
| Author: |
Rollins |
| Growth
Habit: |
Annual |
| CPC
Number: |
2512 |
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| Primary
custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered
Plants is: |
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| Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D. contributed to this Plant Profile. |
Lesquerella perforata
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Lesquerella perforata's common name, Spring Creek bladderpod, derives from the floodplain area in which it grows and the shape of its fruit. This rare plant is now known only from a small area within Tennessee's Central Basin. It's continued survival is threatened by practices that alter its habitat, including residential, commercial, or industrial development, livestock grazing, and encroachment of its habitat by woody and herbaceous perennials. (USFWS 1996)
This species is a lovely winter annual--it germinates in the early fall, spends its winters as a small rosette of leaves, and produces white to lavender flowers in March and April. Soon after these flowers wither, fruit matures and the plants die. Once mature, fruits split open, allowing their enclosed seeds to fall to the ground. Here, the seeds lie dormant until the fall, where this interesting life cycle begins again with seed germination. (USFWS 1996)
| Distribution
& Occurrence |
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State Range
Habitat
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Typically found growing on flood plains. Some sort of regular disturbance appears to be necessary for the survival of L. perforata. Some types of agricultural practice (i.e. row-crop cultivation) may provide disturbance at the appropriate time and be beneficial to the species. (USFWS 1996)
Often occurs with Echinacea tennesseensis, Juniperus virginiana, Petalostemon gattingeri, Sporobolus vaginiflorus, Dalea foliosa, Arabis perstellata ampla, Thuja occidentalis, and Picea rubens. (USFWS 1996) |
Distribution
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Occurs within a small area in Wilson County in the vicinity of Lebanon, Tennessee. With one exception, all sites are within the flood plains of Spring and Bartons Creeks. One site is above the floodplain of Spring Creek. (USFWS 1996) |
Number Left
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Thirteen extant sites which form a total of 4 populations. Populations can vary in size from year to year, from a few to many thousands of individuals. (USFWS 1996) |
State/Area
Protection
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State/Area |
Rank |
Status |
Date |
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Tennessee |
S1 |
E |
4/3/2001 |
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| Conservation,
Ecology & Research |
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Ecological
Relationships
Threats
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• Habitat alteration
• Residential, commercial, or industrial development
• Livestock-grazing
• Conversion of its limited habitat to pasture
• Habitat encroachment by woody vegetation and herbaceous perennials
(USFWS 1996) |
Current Research Summary
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Carol J. Baskauf, a researcher at Austin Peay State University, is studying the population genetics of this species (Baskauf 2001) |
Current Management Summary
Research Management Needs
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Determine appropriate techniques for habitat management
Study of the life history/biology of the species is needed |
Ex Situ Needs
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| Books (Single Authors)
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| Rollins, R.C.; Shaw, E.A. 1973. The genus Lesquerella (Cruciferae) in North America. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 288p. |
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| Electronic Sources
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| (2002). New York Botanical Garden--The Virtual Herbarium. [Searchable Web site] New York Botanical Garden. Fordham Road Bronx, New York. http://scisun.nybg.org:8890/searchdb/owa/wwwspecimen.searchform. Accessed: 2002. |
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| Journal Articles
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| Rollins, R.C. 1988. A population of interspecific hybrids of Lesquerella cruciferae. Systematic Botany. 13, 1: 60-63. |
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| USFWS. 1994. Proposed endangered status for Lesquerella perforata (Spring Creek bladderpod). Federal Register. 59, 162: 43322-43326. |
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| USFWS. 1996. Determination of endangered status for Lesquerella perforata (Spring Creek bladderpod). Federal Register. 61, 247: 67493-67497. |
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| Reports
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| Baskauf, C.J. 2001. Genetic (isozyme) survey of two endangered Lesquerella species. Final report to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. |
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| Kral, R. 1983. A report on some rare, threatened, or endangered forest-related vascular plants of the South. Athens, GA: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service. p.1305. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service Technical. |
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