Chorizanthe valida (Sonoma spineflower) Salomon Garcia Plant Ecology 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: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryouphyllales Family: Polygonaceae Genus: Chorizanthe Species: 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 ons/thumb/e/e8/Chorizanthe_rigida_1.jpg/25 0px-Chorizanthe_rigida_1.jpg ons/thumb/e/e8/Chorizanthe_rigida_1.jpg/25 0px-Chorizanthe_rigida_1.jpg bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum= bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum= et=1 et=1 _plan/980930d.pdf _plan/980930d.pdf