Chorizanthe valida(Sonoma spineflower)

Salomon GarciaPlant Ecology 398-04

April 26, 2010

Outline

• Taxonomy• Facts• Location of Chorizanthe

Valida• Physiological features

and flowering pattern• Endangered species list• References

Chorizanthe valida

Taxonomy• Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: CaryouphyllalesFamily: PolygonaceaeGenus: ChorizantheSpecies: Chorizanthe valida

Facts about Chorizanthe valida• C. valida is a coastal plant found in sandy soil• C. valida is of the buckweed family• There are many species of chorizanthe

– 31 species are found in North America – 19 are found in South America

• Known as forb/herb- non-woody plant that is not a grass• Only one known population of C. valida, it is only found in

Point Reyes National Seashore.• At one time this species was believed to be extinct until it

was found in the 1980s

Where is chorizanthe valida found?

• It is endemic to Sonoma county.

• Meaning that this particular plant is only found in the northern part of California

• It is a colony within a coastal grassland

• Very rare!

Ecology and seedling dispersal• Seedlings establish in areas that are relatively free

from other competing native species.• C. valida found mild maritime climate, which usually

means that there is fog in the summer and rain in the winter

• Flowers between June and August based on weather patterns

• Has a peak blooming period of 3 weeks – During this time it emits a floral scent which attracts

honeybees, bumblebees, and wasps– Also during this time the flower begins to disintegrate and

the spiny seeds are disperse

Physiological and anatomical features• They are annuals meaning that they

grow for one year• This plant is a dicot • Root system consists of a slender tap-

root with small lateral roots• Stems- are either erect or prostrate

and are one to several from the base branched at the first node.– Stems could be from half to 5 dm long

and are usually stiff• Leaves – are basal

– Usually 2 to 10 cm long – Leaves are prone to fall in mature

plants• Pubescence – is seen when

unicellular white hairs begin to show

Problems chorizanthe valida is challenged with

• This species of chorizanthe is subject to cattle grazing. Which causes for the depletion in numbers.– Cattle trampling of seedlings is another cause for

the depletion of numbers in the species.– Changes in weather patterns – Land development could have led to the depletion

of mainland species of C.valida.

Organizations that have classified Chorizonthe valida as endangered

• The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has listed this species as endangered as of 1992

• IUCN Red list categorized this species as endangered

Recovery plans• In June of 1992 The United States Fish and Wildlife service

implemented a recovery plan which:– Stated that yearly monitoring would occur– Change in grazing patterns to a lesser amount – Seeds were introduced to three 2 x 2 meter plots within 100—

200 meters to create a higher amount of the species

• Then in March of 2009 they began a 5 year review of C. valida and 57 other species that are found in CA, AZ, UT, NV.– This is to see if it still belongs in the endangered species list or if

the species still exists for that matter.– This has to occur based on the Endangered Species Act of 1973

References

• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Chorizanthe_rigida_1.jpg/250px-Chorizanthe_rigida_1.jpg

• http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=2059

• http://www.jstor.org/stable/2394227?cookieSet=1

• http://www.fws.gov/ecos/ajax/docs/recovery_plan/980930d.pdf