National Collection of Imperiled Plants

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Photographer:

Holly Forbes

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense

Family:	Liliaceae
Common Name:	Pitkin marsh lily
Author:	(Beane & Vollmer) M. Skinner
Growth Habit:	Perennial
CPC Number:	2550

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Photographer: Holly Forbes

Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense 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.

Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense

Only three populations of this beautiful lily have ever been discovered. The Fish and Wildlife Service listed the lily as Endangered in 1997, however it is afforded no legal protection as all three populations are on privately owned land. Listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides no legal protection to plants on private land. The owners of one property have denied researchers access to the population there since 1975. It is presumed that the plants still exist there, but there is no way of determining the number of individuals remaining. The second known site was nearly destroyed by development in 1960s, but approximately 200 plants remain. A major subdivision is planned in the surrounding area, but a "conservation easement" agreement between the California Department of Fish and Game and the landowner will help to preserve this population. At the third known site, where this had once been a common species, only two plants remain. This loss was due in part to wetland filling, but was primarily because of the removal of plants and bulbs for horticultural use. Owners of the latter two sites entered into voluntary protection agreements with The Nature Conservancy in 1989.

The Sonoma County Department of Planning has designated both marshes as "critical habitat." This designation requires that any construction must be separated from the wetland boundaries by a minimum of 50 ft (15 m). Unfortunately, the requirement for a 50-ft setback can be waived if the setback would make the land unsuitable for construction.

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

California

Habitat

Grows only in permanently saturated sandy soils in freshwater marshes and wet meadows at an elevation of approximately 115-200 ft (35-60 m).

Distribution

CA: Southern end of the north Coast Range (Sonoma Co.)

Number Left

As of 1995: 3 Populations. One population with unknown numbers of plants (the property owners have denied access to search for the plant). One population with approximately 200 plants. One population with approximately 2 plants (in 1996) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995; California Natural Diversity Data Base).

Protection

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Global Rank:	G5T1	6/4/2001	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	LE	10/22/1997	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	No

State/Area Protection

	State/Area	Rank	Status	Date

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense is primarily pollinated by hummingbirds, which is typical of plants with deep red flowers.

Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense grows best in open, moist meadows. Plants that grow under tree or shrub cover may grow tall and thin. These plants lack the structural integrity to remain upright when their large flowers emerge. They often fall over, thereby placing their flowers close to the ground, where they are inaccessible to hummingbirds for pollination (Lynn Lozier, 1990, memo to Ed Guerrant, on file at BBG).

Threats

� Collection of plants, seeds, and bulbs for Horticultural purposes (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995).
� Habitat loss due to urbanization (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995).
� Competition from invasive species, including blackberries (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995).
� Shrub and tree encroachment, which increases shading and can alter the marsh hydrology. Encroaching shrubs and trees include dogwood (Cornus sp.) and Willow (Salix sp.) (CA Natural Diversity Database).
� Grazing by livestock and wildlife (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995).
� Low population numbers make the population susceptible to stochastic events (random extinction) and inbreeding (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995).
� Changes in hydrology of the marshes. At one marsh, wetland fills have lowered the water table resulting in drier soil conditions (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995).

Current Research Summary

� A comparison of the pollination ecology and floral evolution of several lilies from the Pacific Coast, including Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense and Lilium occidentale (Skinner, 1988).

Current Management Summary

� Seeds from largest population collected and stored at The Berry Botanic Garden.
� A recovery plan is being developed.
� The Nature Conservancy and the California Conservation Corps have built and maintained cattle exclosures at two sites (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995).
� Listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1997 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1997).

Research Management Needs

� Restrict access to discourage collection of plant material.
� Place sturdy fencing around all emerged plants to decrease loss due to grazing.
� Study genetic diversity within and between known populations.
� Reintroduce plants in suitable habitat.

Ex Situ Needs

� Determine germination protocols.
� Determine propagation and reintroduction protocols.

References

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Electronic Sources

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.

USFWS. (2002). Some Threatened & Endangered Plants Found Mainly in California. Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. http://sacramento.fws.gov/es/plant_spp_accts/acctplant.htm. Accessed: 2002.

Journal Articles

USFWS. 1976. Proposed Endangered Status for 1700 U.S. Plants. Federal Register. 41: 24523-24572.

USFWS. 1995. Proposed Endangered Status for Nine Plants from the Grasslands or Mesic Areas of the Central Coast of California. Federal Register. 60, 148: 39314-39326.

USFWS. 1997. Determination of Endangered Status for Nine Plants from the Grasslands or Mesic Areas of the Central Coast of California. Federal Register. 62, 204: 55791-55808.

Theses

Skinner, M.W. 1988. Comparative pollination ecology and flood evolution in Pacific Coast Lilium. [Ph.D. Thesis]: Harvard University. Cambridge, MA.

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This profile was updated on 3/4/2010