National Collection of Imperiled Plants

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Rumex orthoneurus

Family:	Polygonaceae
Common Names:	Blumer's dock, Chiricahua dock
Author:	Rechinger
Growth Habit:	Forb/herb
CPC Number:	3787

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Fish & WildLife

Rumex orthoneurus is Not Sponsored

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

The Arboretum at Flagstaff

Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D. contributed to this Plant Profile.

Rumex orthoneurus

This species is a long-lived herbaceous perennial plant. If can grow to a height of 2 meters (6.6 ft) and produces oblong, semi-succulent basal leaves that are large (up to 45 cm (18 in) long and 18 cm (7 in) wide). Flowers appear from late July to mid-August on plants that are over one or two feet tall, and are typical of species in the buckwheat family because they lack petals. The inflorescence itself is a large, narrow panicle that sits on the upper half of a tall stalk. Seeds are produced in late august. (Arizona Fish and Game Department 1999)

This species was proposed for federal protection in 1998, but genetic studies and surveys resolved some taxonomic questions, showing that this species had a much larger distribution than previously thought. Those taxonomic questions involved a closely related species, Rumex occidentalis, which looks similar to R. orthoneurus, but is much more widespread. Rumex occidentalis has a tap root while Rumex orthoneurus has rhizomes. (USFWS 1999)

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

Arizona
New Mexico

Habitat

moist, loamy soils within riparian and wetland habitat (perennial streams and springs and cienagas)

HABITAT: Mid- to high-elevation wetlands with moist, organic soil adjacent to perennial springs or
streams in canyons or meadow situations.
ELEVATION: 4,480 - 9,660 ft. (1,366 - 2,946 m).
Conifer forests) or Interior Southwestern Riparian Deciduous Forest. Associated species include Helenium
hoopesii, sedges and rushes (Carex and Juncus species). Often sympatric with R. occidentalis.

Distribution

Known from mountains of Arizona, New Mexico and Sonora, Mexico

Number Left

Several populations are known in Arizona, limited primarily to the sites in the Pinaleno, Chiricahua, Huachuca, and Sierra Ancha mountains and from Santa Fe, Lincoln, Gila, and Carson National Forests in New Mexico, 2 locations in Sonora, Mexico.

Protection

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Global Rank:	G3	1/20/1999	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	RT	8/9/1999	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	No

State/Area Protection

	State/Area	Rank	Status	Date
	Arizona	S3		8/1/2002

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

This species, with its semi-succulent leaves, is very palatable to livestock and wildlife. This makes livestock grazing the most common management conflict involving this species (Brooks 1999).

Threats

Threats include habitat loss and degradation due to:
� Livestock grazing
� Recreation
� Water diversions and development
� Road construction and maintenance
� Wildfire

(USFWS 1998)

Current Research Summary

Recent genetic work indicates that Rumex orthoneurus is distinct from Rumex occidentalis, but R. orthoneurus has a much larger distribution than was previously thought. This is the reason why Rumex orthoneurus was initially proposed for federal protection in 1998, then dropped in 1999. (USFWS 1999; Mount & Floyd 1992)

Current Management Summary

� Populations are monitored under a conservation strategy on the Coronado and Tonto National Forests in Arizona. (Brooks 1999)
� A transplant/introduction program was begun in the Tonto and Coronado National Forests using plants grown at Desert Botanical Gardens from seed collected in the Sierra Ancha Mountains. (Arizona Fish and Game Department 1999)

Research Management Needs

� Assess population trends with monitoring and threat assessments.

Ex Situ Needs

References

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Books (Single Authors)

Kearney, T.H.; Peebles, R.H. 1973. Arizona flora. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1085p.

Martin, W.C.; Hutchins, C.R. 1980-1981. A flora of New Mexico. Germany: Hirschberg. 2591p.

Rutman, S. 1992. Handbook of Arizona's endangered, threatened, and candidate plants. Phoenix, Arizona: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Books (Sections)

Brooks, A.B. 1999. Rumex orthoneurus Rechinger (Chiricahua or Blumer�s Dock), Polygonaceae. Draft abstract from Arizona Rare Plant Book. in prep.

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.

Conference Proceedings

Bellsey, R.L.; Mount, D.W. Analysis of Rumex orthoneurus, a Rare Species in Arizona, Using RAPD Markers and Polymorphisms in rbcL. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-283. Proceedings of the Southwestern Rare and Endangered Plant Conference; September 11-14; Flagstaff, AZ. In: Maschinski, J.; Hammond, H.D.; Holter, L., editors. 1996. USDA and US Forest Service. p 60-67.

Mount, D.W.; Floyd, M.L. Genetic Analysis of Rumex orthoneurus and Rumex occidentalis Species by the RAPD Marker Technique. Proceedings of the Southwestern Rare and Endangered Plant Conference; 30 March - 2 April; Santa Fe, NM. In: Sivinski, R.; Lightfoot, K., editors. 1992. New Mexico Forestry and Resources Conservation Division. p 236-248.

Electronic Sources

Arizona Game and Fish Department. (1999). Plant Abstracts. Compiled and edited by the Heritage Data Management System, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ. http://www.gf.state.az.us/frames/fishwild/hdms_site/Abstracts/Plants/abstracts%20-%20plants.htm. Accessed: 2002.

Journal Articles

Fishbein, M.; Felger, R.S.; Malusa, J. 1993. Rumex orthoneurus Reich. f. (Polygonaceae): new for Mexico. Madro�o. 40, 4: 271.

Fonseca, J. 1992. Southwestern Rare and Endangered Plant Conference. The Plant Press. 16: 6-7.

Rechinger, K.H., Jr.; Dahlgren, B.E. 1937. The North American species of Rumex. Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series. 17, 1: 97.

USFWS. 1998. Proposed Threatened Status for the Plant Rumex orthoneurus (Chiricahua Dock). Federal Register. 63, 62: 15813-15820.

USFWS. 1999. Withdrawal of Proposed Rule To List the Plant Rumex orthoneurus (Chiricahua Dock) as Threatened. Federal Register. 64, 152: 43132-.

Reports

Fletcher, R.A. 1978. Status report for Rumex orthoneurus. Albuquerque, New Mexico: Unpublished report for the USFS.

Friar, E.; Nam, H.; Mount, D.W. 1993. Lilium parryi & Rumex orthoneurus genetic study. Tucson, Arizona: Report to U.S. Forest Service. Department of molecular and cellular biology, University of Arizona. p.18.

Galeano-Popp, R. 1991. Management plan for Rumex orthoneurus on the Coronado National Forest. Tucson, Arizona: Unpublished report for the USFS Coronado National Forest.

Gobar, C.F. 1990. 1990 Blumer's dock monitoring report. Payson, Arizona: Unpublished report for the Tonto National Forest, Payson and Pleasant Valley Ranger Districts.

Phillips, A.M., III; Green, L.T.; Mazzoni, J. 1980. Status report for Rumex orthoneurus. Albuquerque, New Mexico: Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Spleiss, K. 1989. Rumex orthoneurus management plan. Douglas Ranger District, Coronado National Forest.

USDA. 1993. Conservation Strategy for Chiricahua Dock (Rumex orthoneurus) Coronado National Forest 1993-1997. USDA, Forest Service, Coronado National Forest. p.28.

Van Devender, T.R. 1980. Status report for Rumex orthoneurus. Phoenix, Arizona: Prepared for Arizona Natural Heritage Program. Arizona Game and Fish Department files.

Theses

Dawson, J.E. 1979. A biosystematic study of Rumex Section Rumex in Canada and the United States. [Ph.D. Thesis]: Carleton University.

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This profile was updated on 3/4/2010