National Collection of Imperiled Plants

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Photographer:

Walter Wisura

Search Alphabetical List Reference Finder CPC Home

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Swallenia alexandrae

Family:	Poaceae
Common Names:	Eureka Dunes grass, Eureka Valley dunegrass
Author:	(Swallen) Soderstrom & Decker
Growth Habit:	Perennial
CPC Number:	4171

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

Profile Links

ITIS
Tropicos
PLANTS
Fish & WildLife

enlarge

Photographer: Walter Wisura

Swallenia alexandrae is Not Sponsored

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

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

Swallenia alexandrae

Swallenia alexandrae is a perennial grass found only in the southern portion of Eureka Valley Sand Dunes system in Inyo County, California (USFWS 1983). The grass forms large clumps across dune slopes and spreads as the shifting sand surrounds newly formed stems. Flowering stalks are 1.5 to 10 dm tall and have stiff lance like blades that are 2.5 to 12cm in length (USFWS 1983). Small flowers grow in narrow clusters and bloom from April to June (Munz 1974).

Since the Dune Grass was discovered in 1949 by Anne Alexander, it's populations have been in decline as a result of off road vehicle recreation (USFWS 1983). In 1976, The Bureau of Land Management closed the Dunes to vehicle recreation (USFWS 1983). Although this has promoted recovery, plants are still threatened because closure to off road vehicles is not fully observed. Swallenia alexandrae was federally listed as an endangered species on April 26, 1978.

Distribution & Occurrence

Top

State Range

California

Habitat

Swallenia alexandrae is restricted to sandy slopes in the Eureka Valley Dunes system.

Distribution

Swallenia alexandrae is endemic to the Eureka Dunes, located in Eureka Valley in eastern Inyo County, California. Eureka Valley is northwest of Death Valley and is bordered by the Inyo Mountains to the north and west, the Sanne Range Mountains to south and the Last Chance Mountains to the east.

Number Left

Size and occurrences of populations are largely unknown.

Protection

Top

Global Rank:	G1	7/18/2003	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	LE	10/24/1996	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	No	12/13/1982

State/Area Protection

State/Area	Rank	Status	Date

Conservation, Ecology & Research

Top

Ecological Relationships

The blue-green weevil is restricted to the Eureka Dunes and can survive because of the shade provided by Swallenia alexandrae (California Department of Fish and Game 1988). Associated plant species include the Eureka Evening Primrose (Oenothera avita ssp. eurekensis) and the Eureka locoweed (Astragalus lentiginosus var. micans, both are regarded as endangered (USFWS 1978).

Threats

Since the 1960's, the Dunes have become a popular place for recreational four wheel driving (USFWS 1977). Although the Dunes were closed to vehicular activity in 1976, illegal activity continues. The spinning of wheels through the sand cuts grass rhizomes, thereby thwarting the plants' ability to absorb water (USFWS 1983). Destruction of vegetation and disturbance to sand further promotes water loss for this and other dune species.

Current Research Summary

Research by Pavlik and Barbour (1988) has shown that data for seed production, survivorship, seed bank and seed establishment may aid in designing a monitoring program for rare plants in Eureka Dunes, California. The authors found that the endemic populations of Swallenia, Oenothera and Astragalus at the dunes are not declining. Although the plant populations appear to be stable further study is warranted on the pollinator populations.

Current Management Summary

The primary objective of the Eureka Valley Dunes Recovery Plan is to protect the existing dunegrass and associated species from human threats. There is no plan for transplantation or other methods of propagation to support existing populations (USFWS 1983). The plan does call for adequate monitoring of remaining populations.

Research Management Needs

Population monitoring and understanding of reproductive biology is needed in order to aid conservation efforts.

Ex Situ Needs

References

Top

Books (Single Authors)

Mohlenbrock, R.H. 1983. Where have all the wildflowers gone? A region-by-region guide to threatened or endangered U.S. wildflowers. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc. 239p.

Munz, P.A. 1974. A flora of southern California. Berkeley: Univ. California Press. 1086p.

Skinner, M.W.; Pavlik, B.M. 1997. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California: Electronic Inventory Update of 1994, 5th edition. Sacramento: California Native Plant Society.

Smith, J.P.; Berg, K. 1988. California native plant society's inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. Sacramento: California Native Plant Society. 168p.

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.

Pavlik, B.M. 1994. Demographic monitoring and the recovery of endangered plants. In: Bowles, M.L.; Whelan, C., editors. Recovery and Restoration of Endangered Species. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. p 322-350.

Electronic Sources

(2000). CalFlora: on California plants for education, research and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: The CalFlora Database [a non-profit organization]. http://www.calflora.org/.. Accessed: 2002.

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.

Journal Articles

Pavlik, B.M. 1980. Patterns of water potential and photosynthesis of desert sand dune plants Eureka Valley California USA. Oecologia (Berlin). 46, 2: 147-154.

Pavlik, B.M.; Barbour, M.G. 1988. Demographic monitoring of rare plants. Biological Conservation. 46: 243-246.

Pavlik, B.M; Barbour, M.G. 1988. Demographic monitoring of endemic sand dune plants Eureka Valley California USA. Biological Conservation. 46, 3: 217-242.

USFWS. 1977. Eureka Dunes' Plants Spared by BLM Vehicle Ban. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 2, 3: 5-6.

USFWS. 1978. Determination that 11 plant taxa are endangered species and 2 plant taxa are threatened species. Federal Register. 43, 81: 17910-17916.

USFWS. 1978. Furbish Lousewort Among 13 Plant Taxa Newly Listed by Service for Protection. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 3, 5: 1, 7-8.

USFWS. 1983. Eureka Valley Dunes Recovery Plan Approved. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 8, 3: 10-11.

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.

Search Other National Collection Profiles

This profile was updated on 3/4/2010