Trifolium friscanum | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Genus: | Trifolium |
Species: | T. friscanum |
Binomial name | |
Trifolium friscanum (S.L. Welsh) S.L. Welsh | |
Trifolium friscanum is a rare species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name Frisco clover. [1] It is endemic to the US state of Utah, where it is known only from Beaver and Millard Counties. It is found growing on the San Francisco Mountains, Beaver Lake Mountains, Wah Wah Mountains and Tunnel Springs Mountains. Most individuals live in the San Francisco Mountains, where the highest point is called Frisco Peak. [2] It was originally described as a variety of Trifolium andersonii in 1978, but was elevated to species status in 1993. [3] It occurs over 250 km (160 mi) away from the nearest T. andersonii. [4]
This is a low-growing dwarf plant with a taproot and woody stem. It is no more than 3 cm (1.2 in) tall. Each leaf is made up of three leaflets coated in silvery hairs. The inflorescence contains 4–9 reddish purple flowers. [3] [4]
This plant grows in pinyon-juniper and sagebrush ecosystems. Other plants in the habitat include Ephedra viridis (Mormon tea), Gutierrezia sarothrae (snakeweed), Cercocarpus intricatus (dwarf mountain-mahogany), and Petradoria pumila (rock goldenrod). The local region is home to other rare plants, including Eriogonum soredium (Frisco buckwheat) and Lepidium ostleri (Ostler's peppergrass). [3]
Frisco clover is known as a "narrow endemic" because it grows on a particular substrate: gravelly and bouldery volcanic soils, Ordovician limestone, and dolomite. [3]
There are only five populations of this plant. [3] The total population of the plant is not certain because it is difficult to count individuals of this mound-forming species. Also, some occur on private property where access is restricted. [5]
The main two threats to the species' survival are mining and nonnative species. Mining has occurred in the region for a long time, as the substrates are rich in silver, zinc, lead, gold, and copper. Gravel quarrying has also occurred. There are many old mine shafts in the area. Most mining has ceased now, but some local areas are vulnerable to continuing mining activity. Three of the five remaining populations of the plant are located at mining sites. [3]
Introduced plant species are also a threat to this species. The most notorious is Bromus tectorum , cheatgrass. It grows in the area, and the aforementioned mining activity actually encourages its spread. Cheatgrass encourages fire in this area, which is not fire-adapted. [3]
Trifolium amoenum, known by the common names showy Indian clover and two-fork clover, is endemic to California, and is an endangered annual herb that subsists in grassland areas of the San Francisco Bay Area and the northern California Coast Ranges.
Trifolium cyathiferum is a species of clover known by the common names cup clover and bowl clover.
Trifolium trichocalyx is a species of clover known by the common name Monterey clover.
Suaeda californica is a rare species of flowering plant in the amaranth family known by the common name California seablite. It is now endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California, where it is known from a few occurrences in the marshes around Morro Bay, historical populations around San Francisco Bay have been extirpated.
Trifolium andersonii is a species of clover known by the common names fiveleaf clover and Anderson's clover. It is native to the western United States, particularly the Great Basin and adjacent high mountain ranges, including the Sierra Nevada. It was named after Charles Lewis Anderson by Asa Gray.
Trifolium bolanderi is a species of clover known by the common names Bolander's clover and parasol clover.
Trifolium buckwestiorum is a rare species of clover known by the common name Santa Cruz clover.
Trifolium jokerstii is a rare species of clover known by the common names Jim's clover and Butte County golden clover. It is endemic to Butte County, California, where it is known from eight or nine occurrences near Oroville. It grows in seasonally moist habitat, such as vernal pools, pastures, and ephemeral creeks. It was previously included within the description of Trifolium barbigerum as an odd yellow-flowered variant of a mostly purple-pink-flowered species, and was elevated to species status in 1998. It was named for the California botanist Jim Jokerst.
Erigeron rhizomatus is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names Zuni fleabane and rhizome fleabane. It is native to western New Mexico and eastern Arizona in the United States. It is a federally listed threatened species.
Eutrema penlandii is a rare species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names Penland's alpine fen mustard and Penland's eutrema. It is endemic to Colorado in the United States, where it is known only from a small strip of unique mountain habitat measuring 40 kilometers long. It is threatened by mining and associated environmental changes in this part of the Continental Divide in central Colorado. The plant was federally listed as a threatened species of the US in 1993.
Pediocactus despainii is a rare species of cactus known by the common names Despain's cactus and San Rafael cactus. It is endemic to the state of Utah in the United States, where it is limited to the San Rafael Swell in Emery County, Utah.
Rhynchospora knieskernii is a rare species of sedge known by the common name Knieskern's beaksedge. It is endemic to the state of New Jersey in the United States, where it occurs naturallyin the Pine Barrens. Reports have cited it present in Delaware as well, but these populations appear to have been introduced. It is threatened by the destruction and degradation of its habitat. It is a federally listed threatened species of the United States.
Sclerocactus wrightiae is a rare species of cactus known by the common names Wright's little barrel cactus and Wright's fishhook cactus.
Packera franciscana is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name San Francisco Peaks groundsel, or San Francisco Peaks ragwort. It is endemic to Arizona in the United States, where it is known only from the San Francisco Peaks in Coconino County. It is threatened by recreational activities in its habitat. It is a federally listed threatened species of the United States.
Eriogonum codium is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common names basalt desert buckwheat and Umtanum Desert wild buckwheat. It is endemic to Washington in the United States, where it is known only from Hanford Reach National Monument in Benton County. It was discovered in 1995 during an inventory of the biodiversity of the monument and described to science in 1997.
Trifolium leibergii is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name Leiberg's clover. It is native to Oregon and Nevada in the United States.
Trifolium thompsonii is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name Thompson's clover. It is endemic to Washington state in the United States, where it occurs in two counties. One of the largest populations occurs in the Entiat Slopes Natural Area Preserve in Chelan County.
Mentzelia chrysantha is a species of flowering plant in the Loasaceae known by the common names gold blazingstar and golden blazingstar. It is endemic to Colorado in the United States.
Eriogonum soredium is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name Frisco buckwheat. It is endemic to Utah in the United States, where it is known only from Beaver County. There are four populations, all located in the San Francisco Mountains. It is a candidate for federal protection.
Trifolium nanum, the dwarf clover, is a perennial plant from the family Fabaceae. It was first recorded by Edwin James in 1820. Nanum means, "dwarf," in Latin.