Nolina cismontana

Last updated

Nolina cismontana
Nolina cismontana 2.jpg
Status TNC G2.svg
Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Nolina
Species:
N. cismontana
Binomial name
Nolina cismontana

Nolina cismontana, the chaparral beargrass, chaparral nolina, California beargrass, Peninsular beargrass, or peninsular nolina, is a rare species of flowering plant of the Peninsular and Transverse Ranges in California. It is endemic to (known from) only four counties in Southern California: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Ventura Counties. There are perhaps 15 to 17 occurrences in existence, with a total population estimated between 10,000 and 20,000. [1]

Contents

This species, previously classified as a subspecies of Nolina parryi , was elevated to species status in 1995. [2] The type specimen is from Trabuco Canyon. [2] The two species differ in morphology as well as habitat and ecology.

Distribution

Nolina cismontana occurs in coastal mountain ranges in dry chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitat on rocky sandstone and gabbro substrates. By contrast, N. parryi is more often found in woodlands on granite soils. [2]

The plant is in decline throughout most of its range. [1] Threats include destruction and fragmentation of habitat for development, construction of roads, and agriculture, changes in the fire regime, recreational activity, and non-native species. [1]

This species is a "fire-follower", experiencing reproduction and prolific blooming after wildfire. [1]

Description

Nolina cismontana grows to 30 centimetres (0.98 ft) in height but can be much taller, reaching well over 1 metre (3.3 ft). At ground level is a rosette of 30 to 90 long, narrow leaves which measure up to 140 centimetres (4.6 ft) long by 3 centimetres (0.098 ft) wide with a widening at the bases. They are stiff, whiplike, or limp, sometimes waxy in texture, and serrated on the edges.

The inflorescence is a compound panicle of whitish flowers interspersed with pointed bracts. The plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers occurring on separate plants.

Related Research Articles

<i>Nolina</i> Genus of flowering plants

Nolina is a genus of tropical xerophytic flowering plants, with the principal distribution being in Mexico and extending into the southern United States. They are large, dioecious plants.

<i>Nolina parryi</i> Species of flowering plant

Nolina parryi is a flowering plant that is native to Baja California, southern California and Arizona.

<i>Baccharis pilularis</i> Species of shrub

Baccharis pilularis, called coyote brush, chaparral broom, and bush baccharis, is a shrub in the daisy family native to California, Oregon, Washington, and Baja California. There are reports of isolated populations in New Mexico, most likely introduced.

<i>Tetracoccus dioicus</i>

Tetracoccus dioicus, known by the common names red shrubby-spurge and Parry's tetracoccus, is a species of flowering plant.

<i>Nolina bigelovii</i> Species of flowering plant

Nolina bigelovii is a flowering plant native to the Southwestern United States, California, and northwest Mexico. It grows in the driest desert areas and at elevations up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft).

<i>Dudleya edulis</i> Species of succulent

Dudleya edulis is a succulent plant known by the common name fingertips.

<i>Chorizanthe fimbriata</i> Species of flowering plant

Chorizanthe fimbriata, the fringed spineflower, is an annual plant in the family Polygonaceae, the buckwheats. It is a member of the genus Chorizanthe, the spineflowers, and is native to southern California and northern Baja California.

<i>Arctostaphylos pallida</i> Species of flowering plant

Arctostaphylos pallida, commonly known as Pallid Manzanita, Oakland Hills Manzanita, and Alameda Manzanita, is an upright Manzanita shrub from the Ericaceae, or heath family. It is endemic to the eastern San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California.

Arctostaphylos luciana is a species of manzanita known by the common name Santa Lucia manzanita, is endemic to California. .

<i>Artemisia palmeri</i> Species of tree

Artemisia palmeri is a rare species of sagebrush known by the common names San Diego sagewort and Palmer sagewort.

<i>Astragalus brauntonii</i> Species of legume

Astragalus brauntonii is a rare species of milkvetch known by the common name Braunton's milkvetch. It is endemic to California, where it is known from fewer than 20 extant occurrences in the hills and mountains surrounding the Los Angeles Basin in Southern California. This is a federally listed endangered species in the United States.

<i>Arctostaphylos rainbowensis</i> Species of tree

Arctostaphylos rainbowensis is a species of manzanita known by the common name Rainbow manzanita. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from northern San Diego and southern Riverside Counties in the Peninsular Ranges.

<i>Orobanche californica</i> Species of flowering plant

Orobanche californica, known by the common name California broomrape, is a species of broomrape. It is a parasitic plant growing attached to the roots of other plants, usually members of the Asteraceae.

Platanthera cooperi is an uncommon species of orchid known by the common names Cooper's rein orchid and chaparral rein orchid.

<i>Plagiobothrys collinus</i>

Plagiobothrys collinus is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common name Cooper's popcornflower.

<i>Senecio californicus</i>

Senecio californicus is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name California ragwort.

<i>Tetradymia comosa</i> Species of plant

Tetradymia comosa is a species of flowering plant in the aster family, known by the common name hairy horsebrush.

<i>Ziziphus parryi</i>

Ziziphus parryi is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family known by the common name Parry's jujube.

<i>Nolina brittoniana</i> Species of plant

Nolina brittoniana is a rare species of flowering plant in the asparagus family known by the common name Britton's beargrass. It is endemic to Florida, where there are 72 known populations, only a few of which are large enough to be considered viable. It is federally listed as an endangered species of the United States.

<i>Nolina microcarpa</i> Species of flowering plant

Nolina microcarpa is a species of flowering plant in the asparagus family known by the common names sacahuista and palmilla. Like other species of Nolina, it may be called beargrass. It is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States in Arizona and New Mexico. It does occur in the southwestern corner of Utah, where it has a limited distribution on Navajo Sandstone, but reports of it occurring in Texas may be in error.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 The Nature Conservancy
  2. 1 2 3 Hess, W. J. and J. C. Dice. (1995). Nolina cismontana (Nolinaceae), a new species name for an old taxon. Novon 5:2 162-4.