(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
OTHER COMMON NAMES - COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND;BUTTON-CELERY; BUTTON-CELERY, CONSTANCE'S; BUTTON-CELERY, LOCH LOMOND; CELERY, BUTTON-, CONSTANCE'S; CELERY, BUTTON-, LOCH LOMOND; COYOTE-THISTLE and CONSTANCE'S
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Angiosperm
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MAGNOLIOPHYTA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAGNOLIOPSIDA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - APIALES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - APIACEAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - ERYNGIUM,
SPECIES AND SSP - CONSTANCEI,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - ERYNGIUM CONSTANCEI
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Loch Lomond Coyote-thistle
Eryngium constancei Sheikh
KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Angiosperm
DIVISION: Magnoliophyta CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Apiales FAMILY: Apiaceae
Plants slender, weak, spreading, decumbent or ascending, densely
puberulent, 20-30 cm tall from a rootstock bearing fascicled fibrous
roots, the first node of principal flowering scape 1-2 cm above
rootstock, the scape diffusely branched with 4-6 slender, spreading
branches from first or occasionally second node. Basal leaves
septate, the earliest bladeless, 15-20 cm long, the later leaves 10-15
cm long with slender, elongate, laterally spinulose petioles 8-12 cm
long, usually much longer than blade; blades linear-lanceolate to
lanceolate acuminate, 3-4 cm long, 3-4 mm broad, spinose-serrate to
lobed or remotely spinulose, the lobes usually decreasing toward base
and grading into petiole, acute; cauline leaves of first or second
node like basal but smaller, abruptly reduced above to bract-like
structures. Inflorescence of cymosely arranged heads, white or often
faintly purplish, the peduncles slender, 5-8 cm long, the heads
globose, 3-5 mm long, 4-6 mm broad, rather loosely 5-7 flowered.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
Date 13 MAR 96
Involucral bracts 4 or 5, about 1 mm broad in flower, becoming 7-9 mm
and 1.5 - 2 mm broad in fruit, exceeding head, marginally spinose with
2 or 3 pairs of spines to 1.5 mm long, subulate, scarious-winged at
base with broad, short, distally spinose wings, densely puberulent
dorsally. Bractlets 1-3, 5-6 mm long and 0.6-0.8 mm broad in flower,
exceeding flowers, becoming 6-6.5 spines to 1 mm long and with short,
broad scarious basal wings enfolding fruit, densely puberulent
dorsally. Sepals lanceolate, about 2 mm long and 0.5-0.6 mm broad in
flower, becoming 2.2-2.5 mm long and about 0.7 mm broad in fruit,
scarious margined, entire, cuspidate; petals white (rarely purplish
distally), oblanceolate, about 1 mm long and about 0.5 mm broad,
puberulent on margin, 3-fid; styles 2-2.5 mm long, equalling to longer
than sepals in flower, becoming 3-3.5 mm long and much longer than
fruiting sepals. Fruit ovoid, 1.6-2.2 mm long, 1.2-1.5 mm broad
shorter than styles but almost equalling sepals, densely squamate, the
scales acuminate with an obscure calycine row, 0.5-0.7 mm long and
about 0.2 mm broad, appressed, the calycine and lateral scales longer
and ascending, becoming abruptly smaller toward base, white or brown,
obscurely colliculate, densely puberulent. Cotyledons linear, 1.5-1.8
cm long, about 0.5 mm broad (n=16). (Narrative consits of the entire
description of the species, Sheikh, 1983) (01).
Sheikh (01) notes that the species closely resembles Eryngium
aristulatum var. aristulatum but can be distinguished readily by the
dense puberulence and the sparse flowers, which usually number five,
but never more than seven per head in E. constancei. Early
collections of this species were annotated as E. aristulatum Jeps. var
aristulatum (02).
Constance (03), an authority on the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae), says
that the genus Eryngium is a difficult and confusing genus, with much
polyploidy, and species interbreed easily. Also, because of its
vernal pool habitat, isolation of small populations alternated with
occasional gene flow. As a result, the species are poorly defined.
While he feels that Sheikh has done careful and thorough work on this
species (04), Constance likely would not have separated the entity as
a separate taxon.
Another common name is Constance's coyote-thistle (11). Some
people prefer to call the genus button-celery rather than coyote-
thistle to prevent misunderstanding as to the family to which the
genus belongs.
The type locality is, "Lake County, California, drying vernal
pool along roadside in meadow with Pinus ponderosa and Quercus
kelloggii, Loch Lomond." The holotype is reposited at the UC
Herbarium, Berkeley (UC); isotypes are reposited at the following
herbaria: BM, F, GH, K, LE, MAK, MEXU, MO, NY, ORE, OSU, P, PH, RM,
RSA, S, US, WS, WTU (01).
A drawing of E. constancei seedling and mature plant are
presented in Sheikh's description of the species (01). A photograph
is on file with the California Native Plant Society in Sacramento, CA
(08).
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
E: Federal Endangered
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Loch Lomond coyote-thistle (Eryngium constancei) 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.
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: California Endangered Species Act; Fish and Game
Code Chapter 1.5, Article 1, Section 2050.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
None.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
Date 13 MAR 96
None.
85/08/01:50 FR 31187/31190 - Emergency rule; Endangered
85/09/27:50 FR 39526/39527 - Notice of Review; Plant Taxa
86/03/26:51 FR 10412/10415 - Proposed rule for endangered status
86/12/23:51 FR 45904/45907 - Final rule; Endangered
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - AQUATIC
TERRESTRIAL
INLAND AQUATIC
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTRY TYPES
SAF TYPE STAGE CLOSURE
Interior Ponderosa Pine mature tree
Interior Ponderosa Pine Old Growth
LAND USE -
Residential
Transportation, communications, and Util
Evergreen Forest Land
Nonforested Wetland
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Palustrine EM4
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Eryngium constancei is a vernal pool species. Plants
germinate in shallow water of a vernal pool and flower when water has
completely receded. It is known from only one vernal pool in the
North Coast Ranges of California, at an elevation of about 2800 ft.
The pool is about 7 ac in extent, and this species occupies most of
the pool bottom (06). The vernal pool is surrounded by mixed conifer
forest dominated by Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine), Quercus
kelloggii (California black oak) and Cornus nuttallii (09,02).
The nomenclature for vernal pool types has not been clearly
elucidated, but this vernal pool is located on soils of volcanic
origin, and might be termed Northern volcanic vernal pool (10). As is
typical for vernal pools, the habitat for E. constancei occupies the
lowest elevation portion of a small basin. Other plant species
occurring in the vernal pools are: Lilaea scilloides, Navarretia
pleiantha and N. pauciflora (both rare and endangered species listed
by the California Native Plant Society (11), and the former listed by
the California Department of Fish and Game as endangered (12)),
Eleocharis sp., Plagiobothrys sp., Gratiola ebracteata, Downingia sp.,
and Mimulus tricolor (08,09).
Sheikh provided little ecological information on the species in
his dissertation or descriptive article (01). However, based on
observations of this vernal pool and others in the region, the pool
supporting E. constancei appears similar in soil chemistry and texture
(silty clays), water chemistry, depth, and its persistence in the
spring season (08,13). The soil of the lake bed consists of a fine,
powdery, volcanic, silty clay of volcanic origin (15). As with other
vernal pools in the region, the vernal pool at Loch Lomond holds water
well into the summer, and the species in it bloom later than those
found in vernal pools in the Central Valley of California. The
surrounding vegetation, ponderosa pine forest, is typical for vernal
pools found in the North Coast Ranges. There is a band of herbaceous
vegetation between the vernal pool and the surrounding forest; trees
are probably excluded from the area due to seasonally high ground
water table (13).
Eryngium constancei, according to observations by Susan Cochrane,
Habitat Associations - 1 Rick York, and Jim Bartel (06,07,08) is extremely abundant in the
majority of the vernal pool bottom. Although no quantitative data are
available, it might be considered a dominant or co-dominant within the
habitat it occupies. A portion of the population is found in a
culvert crossing State Highway 29 (08). A manmade ditch has been dug
from the approximate center of the vernal pool and empties through its
outflow toward Cole Canyon, to the north. This ditch may reduce the
potential water storage of the vernal pool, resulting in its being
more ephemeral and shallower than it formerly was prior to the
construction of the ditch.
The lake bed property, which includes a resort, has had a long
history of recreational use and the community of Loch Lomond is part
of a rapidly growing area providing urban services and homesites (15).
Habitat Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
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
G Terrestrial Features: Depressions
G
G
G
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
HABIT:
Eryngium constancei is an herb (01).
LIFE CYCLE:
Annual. According to Constance (03), many California Eryngium
are facultatively annual or perennial, depending on the amount of
soil moisture remaining through the summer. Those members of the
genus inhabiting vernal pools do produce fleshy, fascicled roots which
will produce shoots in a subsequent season, but if the roots dry out,
the plants die. Since E. constancei occupies a high-elevation vernal
pool in an area which receives much precipitation, Constance
speculated that there may be a relatively higher proportion of
perennation in this species than in those of drier climates.
TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Sexual (01,03). Very little is known about the reproductive
system of this species. The plant produces all perfect flowers, with
the number of heads per plant varying greatly from year to year
depending on conditions. The pollinators are not known.
The plant has fascicled roots which may overwinter (03).
Constance reports that there may be vegetative reproduction; although
it has not been definitely shown, plants grown in the garden have been
observed to offset at the base.
REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
Germination does not occur until the winter rains come, probably
after November. Leafing and budding dates are not known. Flowering
occurs from early to mid-summer (perhaps June-July). Fruiting is not
known but it probably occurs in the fall (03). Very little is known
about the reproductive phenology of plants growing in situ. Dr. Yusuf
Sheikh has grown the plants under cultivation for several years.
SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
Monoecious.
POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Pollinators and seed dissemination agents are not known (03).
Dr. Lincoln Constance (03) has indicated that the pollinators for all
of the western Eryngium are not known, although some cursory attempts
have been made to observe insect visitors; there were few. Perhaps
there is some self-pollination in this species although this is
speculative.
There are no known animal seed dispersal vectors (03). Constance
thinks the umbellate heads may shatter, or the heads may fall entirely
from the plant. The resultant propagules may float for a period of
time.
SEED BIOLOGY:
Annual seed production in Eryngium is highly variable, as with
most vernal pool species (03). Sheikh (14) reports that there appears
to be no seed dormancy in Eryngium. Plant germinates in shallow
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
Date 13 MAR 96
water of a vernal pool and flowers when water has completely receded.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Limiting factors are not known specifically for this species or
for the genus Eryngium, but the length of time a vernal pool is
filled, the pattern of rainfall through the winter months, and the
temperature of the water may be decisive in establishing the amount of
germination mortality, flowering, and seed set.
Population density has been reported as dozens of plants per
square foot in the vernal pool bottom (08). In the area being
restored after the 1984 blading, plant density in 1986 was reported as
1 plant per square meter. There is some optimism that the bladed area
may gradually become re-established.
ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
Soils are silty clays probably volcanic in origin (09).
TROPHIC STATUS:
Phototrophic (01). No hosts or symbionts are known.
CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
Dominant/codominant (01,02,03). Eryngium constancei is one of
the most common species in the single vernal pool bed where it occurs.
In other vernal pools in the region, E. aristulatum var. aristulatum
is very abundant, although the latter species apparently does not
co-occur with E. constancei.
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
E. constancei is found in a vernal pool located in a small basin
with soils of volcanic origin. Vernal pool vegetation is largely
composed of annual herbs, and there may be considerable variation from
year to year in the abundance of many of the component species.
Herbaceous species co-occurring with this rare species are Lilaea
scilloides (flowering quillwort), Navarretia pleiantha (many flowered
navarretia), N. pauciflora (few flowered navarretia), Eleocharis sp.
(spikerush), Plagiobothrys sp. (alloarya), Gratiola heterosepala
(hedge hyssop), Downingia sp. (downingia), and Minulus tricolor
(three-colored monkeyflower) (08,09).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
There are no known host-parasite, disease, or herbivore
relationships between this species and other organisms. There are no
known pollinators or seed dispersal agents (03).
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Off-Road Vehicles
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical]
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Herbicide Use
Adverse Off Road Vehicles
Existing Off Road Vehicles
Adverse Hiking/Camping
Existing Hiking/Camping
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Existing Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Adverse Recreational development
Existing Recreational development
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 Draining wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes
Existing Draining wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes
Adverse Strip mining
Existing Strip mining
Adverse Dredging
Existing Dredging
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Eryngium constancei is apparently an extremely rare plant
naturally. It is known from only one locality, although similar
habitat (i.e., vernal pools) do occur nearby and are largely
unmodified by man. Even if E. constancei is found elsewhere in the
region, it would still be an extremely restricted species.
The principal reason for its status is that the only known
locality has been threatened with bulldozing. In 1984 the landowner
bulldozed the vernal pool with the intention of deepening a portion of
the pool and draining the remainder (05). Approximately 15-20 percent
of the vernal pool supporting the population was severely damaged (06,
09). He was stopped by a court order and was given a three-year
probationary period in which he was required to restore habitat, but
the measures taken during 1985 have been marginally successful (07).
Population density has been reported as dozens of plants per
square foot in the vernal pool bottom (08). In the area being
restored after the 1984 blading, plant density in 1986 was reported as
1 plant per square meter. There is some optimism that the bladed area
may gradually become re-established.
Another threat is that a portion of the population is found in a
culvert crossing State Highway 29 (08). Road maintenance may present
a risk to the plant, although the California Department of
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
Date 13 MAR 96
Transportation is aware of the need to protect the plant.
An inspection of the vernal lake on September 16, 1985, revealed
that off-road vehicle use has impacted nearly all of this portion of
the lake bed which includes habitat of Eryngium constancei (15).
The vernal pool, and to a greater extent, the montane meadow
adjacent to it, has been used as a playing field by local children.
The town of Loch Lomond is nearby and occupies the same closed basin
as the plant population. Human activities resulting from ongoing uses
in the vicinity of the population also represent a threat to the
species (09). Moreover, hikers walking on the lake bed and trash
dumped on the lake basin further threaten the species (15).
Finally, a manmade ditch has been dug from the approximate center
of the vernal pool and empties through its outflow toward Cole Canyon,
to the north. This ditch may reduce the potential water storage of
the vernal pool, resulting in its being more ephemeral and shallower
than it formerly was. Although it is unknown whether the construction
of this ditch directly impacted E. constancei in the past, the
presence of this ditch may reduce the size and quality of the habitat
for the species (09).
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
The Loch Lomond coyote-thistle has no recovery plan at this time.
Recommendations for the recovery of this species were made by the
field biologist in Sacramento, California.
According to the recommendations given, this species could become
extinct quickly due to the carelessness of man and his mis-use of the
habitat.
The Federal agencies wish to protect the land that contains this
endangered species. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers involvement with
respect to the listing of Eryngium constancei is the issuance of
dredge and/or fill permits for the vernal lake at Loch Lomond and the
funding by the Federal Highway Administration of any maintenance
activities for State Route 175 affecting the species. The landowners
of the land have been notified concerning the existence of the Loch
Lomond coyote-thistle on their property and communications are open.
This species is under direct threat due to off-road vehicles.
Through a land acquisition by TNC, plans for fencing out ORV's and
limiting human access to the habitat areas have been forecasted.
Restrictions on herbicide use should be issued. A problem may exist
regarding septic tank use. Every effort should be made to keep the
water pollution-free. The primary effort in recovery of this species
is to maintain the habitat area and the existing populations of the
Loch Lomond coyote-thistle.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Sheikh, M.Y. 1983. New taxa of western American Eryngium
(Umbelliferae). Madrono 30(2):93-101.
02 California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Project. No date.
Photographs of herbarium labels from California rare plants. CA
Native Plant Soc., Sacramento.
03 Constance, L. 1986. Pers. comm. Univ. of CA, Berkeley. 94720.
04 Kobetich, G. 1985. Memorandum dated May 3, 1985 to Chief,
Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Portland, OR. 1 pp.
05 Parnell, J. 1985. Letter dated April 24, 1985, to Richard Myshak,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Portland, OR. 2 pp.
06 Bartel, J. 1986. Pers. comm. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv.,
Sacramento, CA 95825.
07 Cochrane, S. 1986. Pers. comm. Endangered Plant Program,
California Dept. of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA 95814.
08 York, R. 1986. Pers. comm. Calif. Nat. Plant Soc., Sacramento,
CA 95814.
09 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Emergency determination of
endangered status for Loch Lomond coyote-thistle (Eryngium
constancei). Fed. Reg. 50:31187-31190.
10 California Department of Fish and Game. 1983. California Natural
Diversity (Data Base), Natural communities. Sacramento, CA 10 pp.
11 Smith, J.P. and R.P. York. 1984. Inventory of rare and endangered
vascular plants of California. CA Native Plant Soc. Pub. No. 1
(3rd ed). Sacramento, CA. 174 pp.
12 California Department of Fish and Game. 1984. Designated
endangered or rare plants. Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game,
Sacramento. 4 pp.
13 Leitner, B.M. (n.d.) Pers. obs. Oakland, CA.
14 Sheikh, M.Y. 1978. A systematic study of West North American
Eryngium (Umbelliferae Apiaceae). Ph.D. diss., Univ. of CA,
Berkeley.
15 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. Endangered wildlife and
plants; determination of endangered status for Eryngium constancei.
Fed. Reg. 51:45904-45907.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Project. Unpub. Copies
of labels from herbarium collections of rare and endangered
California vascular plants. Calif. Native Plant Soc., Sacramento.
02 Parnell, J. 1985. Letter from Mr. Parnell, Dept. of Fish and Game
Sacramento, CA to Richard Myshak, U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv.,
Portland, OR. 2 pp.
03 Sheikh, M.Y. 1983. New taxa of western North American Eryngium
(Umbelliferae). Madrono 30(2):93-101.
04 Cochrane, S. 1986. Pers. comm. Calif. Dept. Fish and Game,
Endangered Plant Prog., Sacramento.
05 Bartel, J. 1986. Pers. comm. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv.,
References - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species COYOTE-THISTLE, LOCH LOMOND
Species Id ESIS701033
Date 13 MAR 96
Sacramento, CA.
06 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. Endangered wildlife and
plants; determination of endangered status for Eryngium constancei.
Fed. Reg. 51:45904-45907.
References - 2