National Collection of Imperiled Plants

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Lotus dendroideus ssp. traskiae

Family:	Fabaceae
Common Names:	San Clemente Island broom, Trasks Island lotus
Author:	(Eastw. ex Noddin) Isely
Growth Habit:	Subshrub
CPC Number:	2686

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Lotus dendroideus ssp. traskiae is Not Sponsored

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

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

Lotus dendroideus ssp. traskiae

Lotus dendroideus var. traskiae is a perennial bush bearing silky branches dotted with yellow or red flowers. This legume is endemic to San Clemente Island, part of the Channel Islands, California. It grows on open, grassy slopes and hillsides. The Island's long history of herbviory has severely altered native communities; currently, only 30 occurrences of this species have survived (CDFG 2002).

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

California

Habitat

Lotus dendroideus var. traskiae grows on open, grassy, north facing slopes and hillsides (CDFG 2002).

Distribution

This species is endemic to San Clemente Island, part of the Channel Islands, California.

Number Left

Approximately 30 existing sites are known. (CDFG 2002)

Protection

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Global Rank:	G4T2	12/27/1991	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	LE	2/28/1995	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	Yes	1/26/1984

State/Area Protection

	State/Area	Rank	Status	Date
	California	S2.1	1

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

Ecological relationships are unknown.

Threats

The introduction of alien herbivores more than a century ago has had dramatic negative effects on plant community composition on all of the Channel Islands. These effects include the reduction of native plant cover, density and biomass. Intensive herbivory has also facilitated the spread of non-native plants and degraded the soil structure causing severe erosion and the destruction of seed banks.

Current Research Summary

Liston and colleagues (1990) found a low degree of hybridization between Lotus species on San Clemente Island. Although hybridization was not extensive, it may still pose a long-term threat (Liston et al. 1990).

Current Management Summary

Since the U.S. Navy has removed goats, as a part of its Feral Animal Removal Program, the general condition of native species has improved (CDFG 2002).

Research Management Needs

Population monitoring and continued habitat restoration as well as understanding reproductive ecology and habitat needs through various life stages will all aid in conservation efforts.

Ex Situ Needs

References

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Books (Sections)

Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the U.S., Canada, and Greenland. In: Kartesz, J.T.; Meacham, C.A., editors. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden. Chapel Hill, NC.

Electronic Sources

CDFG. (2002). California's Plants and Animals, Threatened and Endangered Plants. List and Species Accounts. California Department of Fish and Game, Habitat Conservation Planning Branch. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hcpb/species/t_e_spp/teplant/teplanta.shtml. Accessed: 2002.

ESIS. (1998). Endangered Species System (ESIS): Fish and Wildlife Exchange. [Web site;] Virginia Tech. http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/WWW/esis/. Accessed: 2002.

Journal Articles

Liston, A.; Rieseberg, L.H.; Mistretta, O. 1990. Ribosomal DNA Evidence for Hybridization Between Island Endemic Species of Lotus. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 18, 4: 239-244.

USFWS. 1977. Endangered Listing of Seven California Channel Island Animals and Plants. Federal Register. 42, 155: 40682-40685.

Reports

Sanguamphai. 1989. 1988 Annual Report on the Status of California's State Listed Threatened and Endangered Plants and Animals. State of California, Department of Fish and Game.

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This profile was updated on 3/4/2010