Swallenia

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Swallenia
Swallenia alexandrae.jpeg
Status TNC G1.svg
Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Tribe: Cynodonteae
Subtribe: Scleropogoninae
Genus: Swallenia
Soderstr. & H.F.Decker
Species:
S. alexandrae
Binomial name
Swallenia alexandrae
Synonyms

Swallenia is a rare monotypic genus of plants in the grass family, found only in Death Valley National Park, California. [2] [3]

Contents

The only known species is Swallenia alexandrae, known by the common names Eureka dunegrass [4] and Eureka Valley dune grass. This genus was named for American botanist Jason Richard Swallen (who specialized in grasses), while the species name was in honor of American philanthropist, museum founder, and paleontologist Annie Montague Alexander. [5]

Distribution

Eureka dunegrass is a rare plant that is endemic to Inyo County, California, where it can be found on a single isolated dune system: the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes in the Eureka Valley of the Mojave Desert, within the boundaries of Death Valley National Park. [6] [7] Only five occurrences are known for this species.

Description

Swallenia alexandrae is a coarse, tufted perennial grass which grows in sand from thick rhizomes. Its stiffly erect clums, sharp-leafed blades, and erect pale-colored panicle inflorescences are diagnostic. [8]

Endangered status

Eureka dunegrass is a federally listed threatened species of the United States. [9] The main threat to the species' survival has been off-roading, which is no longer permitted in its habitat. Trespassing off-roaders and campers are still a threat to the five remaining occurrences. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 The Nature Conservancy
  2. ↑ Soderstrom, Thomas Robert & Decker, Henry Fleming. 1963. Madroño 17(3): 88
  3. ↑ Swallen, Jason Richard. 1950. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 40(1): 19-21 descriptions in parallel English + Latin, discussion in English, photo of herbarium specimen
  4. ↑ "ECOS: Species Profile". ecos.fws.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  5. ↑ Bonta, Marcia (1991). Women in the Field: America's Pioneering Women Naturalists (1st ed.). College Station: Texas A & M University Press. pp. 49–60. ISBN   0-89096-467-X. OCLC   22623848.
  6. ↑ Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map
  7. ↑ University of British Columbia Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, Botany Photo of the Day, Swallenia alexandrae, By Daniel Mosquin on December 7, 2007
  8. ↑ Jepson Manual Treatment
  9. ↑ Plant Conservation Report
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