(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
OTHER COMMON NAMES - FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED; FIDDLENECK, LARGE FLOWERED; FIDDLE-NECK and LARGE-FLOWERED
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Angiosperm
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MAGNOLIOPHYTA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAGNOLIOPSIDA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - LAMIALES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - BORAGINACEAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - AMSINCKIA,
SPECIES AND SSP - GRANDIFLORA,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - AMSINCKIA GRANDIFLORA
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Large-flowered Fiddleneck
Amsinckia grandiflora Kleeb. ex Gray
KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Angiosperm
DIVISION: Magnoliophyta CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Lamiales FAMILY: Boraginaceae
Amsinckia gandiflora is an erect colonial annual 3-6 dm tall with
bright red-orange flowers borne in a fiddlehead-shaped inflorescence.
Leaves and stems are bright (rather than grayish) green and densely
covered with coarse, stiff hairs. The leaves are sessile, the lower
linear-lanceolate, the upper lanceolate to broadly so, attenuate at
apex, and rather densely pustulate. The inflorescence is up to 1-1.5
dm long. The calyx has rust-colored bristles that may completely
conceal the appressed hairs beneath the lobes of the calyx fused into
3 or 4, each about 12 mm long. The flowers are 14-18 mm long and are
of two morphs, each borne on different plants: one with anthers
situated within the corolla tube and the stigma exserted ("pin"); the
other with anthers at the mouth of the corolla tube and the stigma
located within the tube ("thrum"). Nutlets (seeds) have a smooth,
shining surface. Although four nutlets per flower are possible, one,
or at the most two nutlets per flower generally develop to maturity in
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
this species. Nutlets are plane on the back and sides, the
attachment scar broadly lanceolate. The flowering period is March-May
(01,02,03,04).
This taxon was first described as Amsinckia vernicosa Hook. &
Arnott var. grandiflora by Gray in 1876 (01). Another synonym is A.
spectabilis Macbr. not Fisch & Mey. (1917) (01). The taxon was given
its present treatment as a full species in 1894, but has been cited in
recent literature variously as A. grandiflora Kleeb. ex Gray (02,05),
Ornduff (07) says this is the correct and most recent treatment. A.
grandiflora (Gray) Kleeb. ex Greene (01), and A. grandiflora Kleeb. ex
Suksd. (03).
Since the early publications, there has been little question of
the distinctness of this taxon at the species level. Its unusually
large, deep orange, dimorphic flower and smooth nutlets distinguish it
from all other California Amsinckia.
Several variations of hyphenation and word separation appear,
such as large-flowered fiddleneck (the preferred name), large flowered
fiddleneck (08), and large-flowered fiddle-neck (03).
The type specimen, as reported by Ornduff (01) is Kellogg s. n.,
no date, CAS? (destroyed), reported from the vicinity of "Antioch,
Contra Costa County" (01,03).
An excellent drawing of the plant may be found in Abrams vol. 3
(03). Colored slides by Dr. Robert Ornduff are available on request
to the California Native Plant Society office in Sacramento, CA (06)
or from the photographer himself, in care of the Department of Botany,
University of California, Berkeley. Plant specimens are deposited in
the following herbaria: Rancho California Academy of Sciences (CAS)
in California, other collections may exist outside California.
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
E: Federal Endangered
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The large-flowered fiddleneck (Amsinckia grandiflora) has been
designated an Endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 (50 CFR 17.12; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C.
1531-1540), as amended. The species has this status wherever found
including the State of California. Critical Habitat has been
designated in the W 1/2 NW 1/4 and W 1/2 SW 1/4 T3S, R4E San Joaquin
County, CA (50 CFR 17.96(a)).
Removal and reduction to possession of any federally listed plant
from an area under Federal jurisdiction is unlawful (50 CFR 17.61 and
17.71).
This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to possess
any wild plant (including roots, seeds, and other parts) within U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in 18 U.S.C.
7); or to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or
purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any wild plant (including
roots, seeds, and other parts) taken, possessed, transported, or sold
in violation of any State law or regulation. It is also unlawful to
import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any
wild plant (including roots, seeds, and other parts) taken or
possessed in violation of any U.S. law, treaty, or regulation or in
violation of Indian tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: California
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: California Dept. of Fish and Game
STATE STATUTE: Calif. Endangered Species Act; Fish and Game Code
Chapt. 1.5, Art. 1, Sec. 2050.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
None.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
None.
75/07/01:40 FR 27823/27924 - Notice of proposal
76/06/16:41 FR 24523/24572 - Proposed rule
79/12/10:44 FR 70796/70797 - Withdrawal of proposal
80/12/15:45 FR 82480/82569 - Notice of review for proposal
84/05/08:49 FR 19534/19538 - Proposal
85/05/08:50 FR 19374/19378 - Final rule - Endangered w/ Crit. Hab.
85/09/27:50 FR 39526/39527 - Notice of Review
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
LAND USE -
Industrial
Herbaceous Rangeland
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The only known occurrence of Amsinckia grandiflora (large-
flowered fiddleneck) is on a steeply sloping, west- to
northwest-facing hillside (09,14) (Note: Ornduff (01), subsequently
cited in USFWS (13) reported the extant site as occurring on south- to
southwest-facing slopes. This is in error.) The site is vegetated by
herbaceous annuals and perennials consisting of both grasses and
broadleaf species. The site is typical of the north-slope phase of
the California annual type grassland; that is, it is comparatively
densely vegetated, and sustains a relatively high proportion of
perennial grasses and broadleaf plant species in comparison with other
aspects or exposures of this plant community (14).
The substrate required by the species is not well characterized.
Ornduff (01) indicates the site is on "light soils"; Rhoads et al.
(12) reported that the soils supporting A. grandiflora appeared
lighter in color and texture than the heavy-textured, dark gray soils
typical of much of Site 300. They report the soils survey map for the
area indicates the slope as having soils of the Linne clay loam
series, rocky outcrop phase; however, they felt this classification
was too general to allow application to that particular hillside
where A. grandiflora was found. Some early collections of the species
describe its substrate as somewhat alkaline (08).
Soil moisture may be relatively high for the California annual
type: the known site is on a north slope, and the blue oaks (Quercus
douglasii) found nearby indicate that the soil moisture levels are
nearly sufficient to support an oak savanna (14).
The elevation range for all of the known localities is below
1200 ft (02). Although the known locality for Amsinckia grandiflora
is about 10 to 40 percent (09), it is not known that it requires such
a steep slope.
Since the known locality for A. grandiflora is located within
land owned by the Department of Energy, managed by the Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory, and facilities for military testing lie
immediately adjacent to the population, both industrial and herbaceous
rangeland are indicated as land-type habitat associations.
Associated species are Achillea borealis, Silene antirrhina,
Stylomecon heterophylla, Trifolium variegatum, Montia perfoliata,
Allium amplectens, Poa scabrella, Festuca megalura, Collinsia
heterophylla, Melica californica, Lupinus albifrons, L. bicolor,
Lithophragma affinis, Marah sp., Phacelia tanacetifolia, Erodium
cicutarium, Orthocarpus purpurascens, Dichelostemma pulchella, and
Delphinium hesperium (09,14). Avena spp. is most common at the site.
Little is known about the adaptations of Amsinckia grandiflora to
fire (09). Many, if not most, plants growing in the California annual
type grassland are adapted to fire in one way or another, since it is
presumed to be a rather frequent event prior to the advent of
Europeans in California. In addition, the presence of fire can shift
the competitive balance of plants in a grassland, and may influence
germination, seedling survival, carbohydrate balance, and reproductive
success. However, the season of burning may create dramatically
different results in grassland response as well. Research on the
Habitat Associations - 1 response of A. grandiflora to fire is needed.
The interaction of A. grandiflora and herbivores is not known.
Seed predation by birds has been observed in cultivated plants (08),
but no incidence of herbivory has been observed in the field (09).
The bristly pubescence on the leaves, stems and flowering parts may
deter some herbivory.
During 1980 field surveys, no incidence of disease was observed
on the plants (09).
The response of A. grandiflora to weather has not been elucidated,
but Cox (17) casually observed that more plants were observed during
fairly dry years than during wet years, at least during the 1980's.
The relationship between weather and the success of A. grandiflora may
indeed be more complex, possibly depending upon average daily
temperature, incidence of freezing, and pattern of rainfall
throughout the winter season, as well as total precipitation
Habitat Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Terrestrial Features: Rock outcrops
G
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
HABIT:
The large-flowered fiddleneck is an herb (01,02,03).
LIFE CYCLE:
Annual (01,02,03). No information is available on the amount of
seed storage in the soil.
TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Sexual (01,04,08,10). Amsinckia grandiflora has two distinct
morphs of flowers, each produced on separate plants, which assure
out-crossing. The "pin" type flower has an exserted style and enclosed
anthers; the "thrum" type flower has a short style and enclosed
anthers which are inserted high in the tube and extend to the throat.
Pollen grains are dimorphic as well, with each morph corresponding to
the flower morph (10). The chief insect visitor is Anthophora
edwardsii (10), which preferentially removes thrum pollen. It appears
to be a fairly consistent visitor to A. grandiflora, as little foreign
pollen was observed on it. Ornduff (10) found the plants had cryptic
incompatibility.
The number and density of plants has been observed to fluctuate
greatly from year to year. In most years, the ratio of pin to thrum
bearing plants is about equal, but in years in which few plants
appear, the ratio may be considerably different (10).
REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
The germination and leafing dates are not known. Flowering most
likely begins in early March and continues through anthesis (01,14),
which occurs from mid-March to mid-May (17). Fruiting begins soon
after first anthesis. Seed/fruit dispersal dates are not known.
Amsinckia grandiflora has been grown on many occasions by Dr.
Robert Ornduff and others at the University of California Botanical
Garden (07). Some unpublished information is undoubtedly available
through this source, although Dr. Ornduff indicates the behavior of
the cultivated plants may not exactly replicate what takes place in
the field.
SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
Monoecious (10,19). A. grandiflora is monoecious, but distylous;
only one morph is present on each plant. Each morph has its own size
and type of pollen (10). Based on field observations by Ornduff (10),
the pin stigmas receive more pollen grains than thrum stigmas, and
also a greater proportion of illegitimate pollen than thrums.
Seasonal fluctuations in the representation of the two morphs have no
striking influence on pollen-flow patterns. The pin:thrum ratio has
been observed to be 1:1 on some years, and 2:1 in some seasons. The
plants appear to possess cryptic incompatibility (10).
POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Pollen dissemination is done by insects, primarily Anthophora
edwardsii (07,10). Ornduff (10) reported preferential collection of
thrum flower pollen by most flower visitors; this may be due to the
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
easier accessibility of pollen produced by the thrum anthers, since
these are situated at the throat of the corolla lobe. Foreign pollen
was generally present in small quantities, suggesting that the
pollinators are rather specific to this species of plant. No
information available on seed dissemination, although Ornduff (07) has
observed birds eating the seeds.
SEED BIOLOGY:
Seed production by A. grandiflora ranges from slightly less than
1.0 to about 1.5 seeds per flower, considerably less than the possible
maximum of four nutlets often produced by more seedy members of the
genus. No data appeared available in the literature on seed
production per plant. However, this plant is an indeterminate
flowering species, so seed production would be expected to vary
considerably depending on how favorable conditions are.
Ornduff (07) felt that there might not be any dormancy
requirement, although seeds have been found to be viable over many
years in cold storage. Dr. Herbert Baker pointed out (18) that since
the species is an annual, and often a poor growth and seed production
year may be followed by a year of high germination and growth, seed
storage is undoubtedly an important mechanism for the species to avail
itself of favorable conditions. No additional information is
available on this, however.
Cultivation of several Amsinckia by Ray and Chisaki (04)
indicated that seeds could easily be germinated in moist sand; however
seed sown up to a few months after harvest would germinate only if
first stratified by placing in moist filter paper at 4 deg. C for 1-4
weeks. Seedlings raised in the spring produced larger and more
vigorous plants than those raised in summer.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Since population numbers have been less than 200 per year between
1980 - 1986 (08,14,17), A. grandiflora may be experiencing some
disruptions in pin:thrum ratios and possibly other less obvious
deleterious effects of genetic bottleneck. Numbers have been slightly
higher in 1984 - 1986 than in the previous four; this may be due to a
variety of factors, weather conditions being among the most important.
Little is known about survival and mortality rates, except some
unpublished observations by Ornduff (07) concerning plants grown in
the Univ. of Calif. Berkeley Botanic Garden. He found the plant easy
to grow in cultivation, with high germination and good seed set. He
could provide details on the cultivation of the plant, but has not
closely observed the entire cycle in the wild.
Population trends: there appears to be a definite decline in
population numbers since the 1950's and 1960's, when the plant was
described as "abundant", and "in the thousands" of individuals (08).
As indicated in previous sections, the cause of the decline is not
known with certainty, and may be due to a combination of factors.
Causes of mortality: seedling mortality rates are not known, but
plants reaching anthesis have been observed to be free of herbivory
and disease (12,09). Since the plant is an annual, mortality rates
are not as meaningful for longer-lived plants.
Recovery potential: much more information is needed about the
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
biology of the plant in order to determine the feasibility of active
intervention for this species. It has been suggested that its
primitive and relatively inefficient reproductive system has caused it
to be out-competed by more weedy Amsinckia, and this species simply
represents the end of an evolutionary line. However, if the
suggestions that man-caused factors are contributing significantly to
the decline in the species, it is desirable to take steps to favor the
species as much as possible.
ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
The only known occurrence of Amsinckia grandiflora occurs in an
area mapped by the Soil Conservation Service as Linne clay loams.
However, collections records and present-day observations indicate
that the soils at the actual site of the population is lighter in
color and texture (01) than the surrounding soils and therefore may
represent a somewhat different condition. Some collectors have
indicated that the soils where the plant occurs are somewhat alkaline
(20).
A. grandiflora now occurs only on a steep, west- and northwest-
facing slope ranging from 10 to 40 degrees. The site where the
population occurs appears to be relatively undisturbed, in spite of
Drop Tower 858 being located within a meter of the population (14).
TROPHIC STATUS:
Phototrophic (01,09,12). Amsinckia grandiflora is a phototrophic
species. It is not known to have any parasitic or semi-parasitic
relations with any other plants. It is not known to host any
symbiotic species, or to have any noticeable diseases (09,12).
CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
Component (01). Although A. grandiflora is a showy plant with
colonies visible from some distance, it has probably never been a
dominant species, even within the small areas in which colonies grow.
At best, it can be described as a component of the grassland, but
never a co-dominant species.
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
All known collections of A. grandiflora have been described as
growing in grassland which would today be called the California annual
grassland (20). It is likely that in pristine times, the dominant
grasses would have been perennials such as Stipa and Poa. These
species persist at the known locality of A. grandiflora, but Bromus
diandrus and Avena spp. are the most abundant species (14).
Much has been written about the dynamics of the California annual
grassland. Fire, weather, and grazing affect the competitive
relationships between species; the response of the vegetation is rapid
because of the high proportion of annual species present. The
relationship of A. grandiflora to other grassland species is not well
understood.
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
No information was found in the literature on known herbivores or
disease-causing organisms. Field observers have noted the absence of
Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
disease and evidence of herbivory on plants in the field (09).
The bee Anthophora edwardsii Cresson (Anthophoridae) was observed
to be the primary insect pollinator of Amsinckia grandiflora (10); it
appeared to collect pollen from the pin morph, presumably because the
thrum anthers are situated in a more accessible location at the throat
of the corolla.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 4 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Suppressing wildfire
Beneficial Prescribed/controlled burning of habitat
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Nonnative Vegetation
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Invertebrates
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Native Vertebrates
Adverse Artillery/Explosions
Existing Artillery/Explosions
Adverse Inherent Reproductive Characteristics
Existing Inherent Reproductive Characteristics
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Existing Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Adverse Highway/Railroads
Existing Highway/Railroads
Adverse Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Existing Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Adverse Strip mining
Existing Strip mining
Adverse Competition
Existing Competition
Adverse Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Existing Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Adverse Grazing
Existing Grazing
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Vegetation Composition Changes
Existing Vegetation Composition Changes
Adverse Suppressing wildfire
Existing Suppressing wildfire
Adverse Fire
Existing Fire
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Historical records suggest that Amsinckia grandiflora has
always been a rare plant, and that it has become rarer in this century
(09). Plant numbers have declined from several thousand plants in
1966 (10) to less than 200 in most subsequent years for which data are
available (08). No one is certain why the plant has declined,
although many reasons have been forwarded, and several factors in
combination may have contributed to its present diminished condition.
Human land use: The areas near the collection sites for
A. grandiflora have been much altered since the first collections were
made. The area near Antioch has been used for ranching, agriculture,
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
and, more recently, housing. Since the exact location of the earliest
collections is not known, the fate of those sites cannot be
ascertained. Most of the Livermore Valley, another collection site,
has been used for ranching for many years, and in the past decade has
become more suburban.
Some man-caused influences may affect the extant site in
particular. Construction of a paved roadway above the population at
Site 300 may influence runoff patterns (01), and the placement of
spoils when the Drop Tower 858 was constructed in 1958 may have
diminished the available suitable habitat for the species (11).
Rhoads and Sauls (12) noted some heavy concrete blocks in the arroyo
below the drop tower and some erosion below a drain pipe east of the
existing population; however, these did not appear to be influencing
the extant colony. The documentation for Federal listing of A.
grandiflora (13) suggested that chemical explosive testing on Site 300
may affect at the species, or that accidental fires caused by the
testing at the Site 300 may have a detrimental effect on the
population. It is not clear that this connection has been established
between ongoing activities by the Department of Energy and the
survival of A. grandiflora; however, testing activities take place
very near the population and precautionary measures to protect the
species are desired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Normal responses to variations in habitat: The single extant
population varies considerably in size from year to year, as do many
species of annual plants found in the valley grasslands of California.
The exact reasons for these variations in Amsinckia grandiflora are
not known (01). Many California annual grassland species respond
strongly to combinations and patterns of precipitation and temperature
which may exert a double influence: directly, plant germination and
seedling survival may be influenced by weather patterns; indirectly,
germination and seedling survival of competing species may limit
available habitat for the plant.
Grazing: Several authors have suggested that the introduction of
exotic grazing animals may have contributed to the reduction of this
species throughout its range (01). Others have suggested that
competition with non-native grassland plants may be a contributing
factor (13). Indeed, the one remaining site persists on a site
ungrazed by domestic livestock for over 30 years (09).
Competition: Because Amsinckia grandiflora grows in a relatively
high-competition site its poor success may, indeed, be indicative of a
poor competitor with non-native introduced grasses and herbs, as are
many native species. Moreover, several authors have noted the
striking contrast between A. grandiflora, A. lunaris, and A. furcata,
all rather low-competition members of the genus, and the widespread,
abundant, and rather weedy A. intermedia and A. tessellata (10,15).
Management factors: The absence of grassland fires or the
occurrence of fires at unnatural seasons may also affect the ability
of Amsinckia grandiflora to germinate, become established, or compete
effectively against other grassland species (13,14). Little
experimental evidence is available on this point. Although Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory does carry out preventive controlled
burning, no such burns have been conducted in the immediately vicinity
of the A. grandflora site. Accidental fires are a possibility due to
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
testing activities at Site 300 and might take place at a time of year
detrimental to the species. However, controlled burns elsewhere on
the site which have benefitted many of the native grassland species
has not improved conditions for A. grandiflora.
Reproductive conditions: Amsinckia grandiflora has a highly
specialized pollination system that ensures out-crossing, but may
result in lowered seed production, especially when total population
numbers are low (13). In addition, reproduction may be disrupted by
imbalances in the equilibrium of the flower morphs, a factor which
becomes more significant when population levels are low (10).
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. Recovery Plan for the Large-
flowered Fiddleneck (Amsinckia grandiflora) Agency Draft. U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 52 pp.
The primary objective for the recovery plan of the large-flowered
fiddleneck is secure and augment the single, known population on
Department of Energy land to meet certain criteria for declassifying
to threatened status and delisting the species. The criteria for
declassifying is to establish two more secure populations which
contain at least 2500 plants and are self-sustaining for five years;
and for delisting, four secure, self-sustaining populations with at
least 2500 plants each, must be established for a 10 year period.
The recovery activities necessary for accomplishing this
objective are:
1) protect the species and habitat from physical disturbance by
securing a long-term cooperative agreement with the DOE and
Lawrence Livermore Labs. Although human access is controlled
at the site due to security the staff and maintenance impacts
and activities must be controlled.
2) enhance the present population and its habitat by implementing
exotic plant and predator/herbivore (bird/insect) control
measures and by managing habitat to reduce competition,
maintain plant vigor, and promote natural regeneration;
3) establish additional populations by propagation with collected
seed, out-planting in suitable historic habitat, establishing
conservation agreements, and monitoring of established
populations;
4) implement management/recovery actions (based on research
results) which identify limiting factors for fruit, seed,
seedling recruitment, identify potential habitat, and
determine requirements for maintaining habitats: Habitat
management actions could include prescribed burning, hand
weeding, or chemical means as determined by research; Fire
control at certain times of the year may be necessary since
season of burning may be significant;
5) locate and protect additional fiddleneck populations; and
6) enforce protective laws and regulations.
Management Practices - 3 (DRAFT) - References
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Ornduff, R. 1977. Rare plant status report, Amsinckia
grandiflora. Calif. Nat. Plant Soc., Sacramento. 3 pp.
02 Munz, P. and D. Keck. 1973. A California flora and supplement.
Univ. of CA Press, Berkeley. 1905 pp.
03 Abrams, L. 1967. An illustrated flora of the Pacific states, Vol.
3. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, CA. 806 pp.
04 Ray, P.M. and H.F. Chisaki. 1957. Studies on Amsinckia. I.
A. synopsis of the genus, with a study of heterostyly in it. Am. J.
Bot. 44:529-535.
05 Kartesz, J.T. and R. Kartesz. 1980. A synonymized checklist of
the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Vol. 2., the biota of North Am. 498 pp.
06 California Native Plant Society. Dr. Ornduff color slides. 909
12th St., Sacramento, CA 95814.
07 Ornduff, R. 1986. Pers. comm. Botany Dept., Univ. of CA,
Berkeley. 94720.
08 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. Draft recovery plan,
Amsinckia grandiflora. USFWS, Sacramento, CA 48 pp.
09 Rhoads, W.A., T.P. O'Farrell, and M.L. Sauls. 1981. Occurrence
and status of endangered species, San Joaquin kit fox, Vulpes
macrotis mutica, and large-flowered fiddleneck, Amsinckia
grandiflora on Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Site 300,
CA. EG&G Co., Santa Barbara, CA. 21 pp.
10 Ornduff, R. 1976. The reproductive system of Amsinckia
grandiflora, a distylous species. Systematic Botany 1(1):57-66.
11 York, R.P. 1986. Personal comm. Calif. Nat. Plant Soc.,
Sacramento, CA.
12 Rhoads, W.A. and M.L. Sauls. 1980. Preliminary report, an
investigation for the occurrence and status of threatened or
endangered species on Lawrence Livermore Lab. Site 300. EG&G Co.,
Santa Barbara, CA. 9 pp.
13 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Determination that
Amsinckia grandiflora is an endangered species and designation of
critical habitat. Fed. Reg. 50: 19374-19378.
14 Leitner, B.M. 1986. Pers. obs. St. Mary's College, P.O. Box 163,
Moraga, CA.
15 Ganders, F.R. 1975. Heterostyly, homostyly, and fecundity in
Amsinckia spectabilis (Boraginaceae) Madrono 23:56-62.
16 Weller, S.G. and R. Ornduff. 1977. Cryptic self-incompatibility
in Amsinckia grandiflora. Evol. 31:47-51.
17 Cox, Robin. 1984. Element preservation plan, Amsinckia
grandiflora. The Nature Conservancy, San Francisco, CA. 3 pp.
18 Baker, H. 1986. Pers. comm. Univ. of CA, Berkeley.
19 Ray, P. and H.F. Chisaki. 1957. Studies on Amsinckia. I.
A synopsis of the genus, with a study of heterostyly in it. Am. J.
Bot. 44:524-536.
20 Department of Fish and Game. 1986. Element occurrence records,
Amsinckia grandiflora. California Natural Diversity (Data Base).
Sacramento, CA.
References - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species FIDDLENECK, LARGE-FLOWERED
Species Id ESIS701032
Date 13 MAR 96
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 California Fish and Game. 1986. Element occurrence records,
Amsinckia grandiflora. California Natural Diversity (Data Base).
Sacramento, CA.
02 Abrams, Leroy. 1967. An illustrated flora of the Pacific states,
Vol 3. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, CA. 806 pp.
03 Rhoads, W.A. and Mary L. Sauls. 1980. Preliminary report, an
investigation for the occurrence and status of threatened or
endangered species on Lawrence Livermore Laboratory Site 300.
EG&G Co., Santa Barbara, CA. 9 pp.
04 Ornduff, R. 1977. Rare plant status report, Amsinckia grandiflora
Calif. Nat. Plant Soc., Sacramento. 3 pp.
05 York, Rick P. Pers. comm. Botanist, Cal. Native Plant Society,
Sacramento, CA. 3 pp.
References - 2