(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
Date 13 MAR 96

TAXONOMY

NAME - CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING

OTHER COMMON NAMES - CENTAURY and SPRING-LOVING

ELEMENT CODE -

CATEGORY - Angiosperm

PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MAGNOLIOPHYTA,

CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAGNOLIOPSIDA,

ORDER AND SUBORDER - GENTIANALES,

FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - GENTIANACEAE,

GENUS AND SUBGENUS - CENTAURIUM,

SPECIES AND SSP - NAMOPHILUM,

SCIENTIFIC NAME - CENTAURIUM NAMOPHILUM

AUTHORITY -

TAXONOMY REFERENCES -

COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Spring-loving Centaury

Centaurium namophilum Reveal, Broome & Beatley

KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Angiosperm

DIVISION: Magnoliophyta CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Gentianales FAMILY: Gentianaceae

Centaurium namophilum Reveal, Broome, and Beatley is an erect,
glabrous annual up to 4.5 dm high with flowering stems borne from the
base with floriferous lateral branches, arising from a slender tannish
taproot (01). The leaves, which are opposite and linear to linear-
lanceolate, are up to 5 cm long and 5 mm wide along the lower part of
the stem and become shorter (to 1 cm long) and narrower (to 1 mm wide)
above (01). The blade is rigid with an acute and somewhat mucronate,
brownish to tannish tip, otherwise green (01). The stems are
yellowish- to tannish-green with internodes up to 4 cm long, usually
much shorter especially above and on the lateral flowering stems (01).
Inflorescences are usually more than half the length of the plant
paniculate-cymose and mostly trichotomously branched (01). Pedicels
are short, lacking or up to 4 mm long in secondary or tertiary
dichasia, and up to 9 mm long in the lower primary dichasia (01).
Bracts are minute, up to 1 mm long and opposite, becoming longer (up
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
Date 13 MAR 96

to 4 mm long) at the lowermost nodes (01). Calyx are tubular, 7 to 8
mm long, the 5 segments linear-oblanceolate, united about 1/4 the
length of the tube, green with a thin hyaline to opaque margin and the
apex of each lobe acute and tan (01).
The corollas are salverform with tubes 7 to 8 mm in length (01).
They are constricted above the ovary, greenish except for the
yellowish portion just below the petals (01). The petals are a deep
rose-pink above and below except for a broad whitish central band on
the lower surface (01). The throat of the tube is yellowish with five
dark purplish spots just below the juncture of the two adjacent petals
(01). The corolla-lobes are 7 to 8 mm long, 2.5 to 2.8 mm wide and
ovate. The bud is convolute (01).
The stamens of this species are conspicuously exserted (01). The
anthers are golden-yellow, linear, and 2.8 to 3.4 mm long at anthesis
(01). After pollen release, the anthers become twisted and are 2 to
2.5 mm long (01). The style slightly exheeds the stamens with a
length of 6.5 to 7.5 mm (01). The stigma is slightly two-lobed, each
lobe being 0.4 mm long and wide (01). When the capsules mature, they
are narrowly fusiform, 7 to 8 mm long with valves elongating to 11 mm
upon dehiscence (01). Seeds are black, rectangular, 0.7 to 0.9 mm
long and minutely reticulated (01). Less than 50 seeds are present
per capsule (01).
The Fish and Wildlife Service originally proposed endangered
status for the spring-loving centaury under the scientific name
Centaurium namophilum var. namophilum (03). The Service now accepts
the specific designation C. namophilum as valid (03). C. namophilum
var. namophilum is now designated as simply C. namophilum; moreover,
C. namophilum var. nevadense is presently considered a synonym for C.
exaltatum (03).
The type specimen is located at US (01). The isotypes are at
ARIZ, BRY, CAS, COLO, DUKE, G, GH, K, MICH, MO, NY, OKL, P, RM, RSA,
SMU, TEX, UC, UTC, WTU, and elsewhere (01). For a description refer
to Reveal, James L., C. Rose Broome, and Janice C. Beatley. Bull.
Torrey Bot. Club. 100:353-356. 1973 (01).

Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
Date 13 MAR 96

STATUS

Coded Status

T: Federal Threatened

COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The spring-loving centaury (Centaurium namophilum) has been
designated a Threatened 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 States of CA and NV. Critical Habitat has been
designated in portions of Sections 21, 23, 28, 34, and 35, T17S, R50E;
Sections 1, 2, 3, 7, 23, and 24, T18S, R50E; and Sections 7, 18, 19,
20, 29, and 30, T18S, R51E, Ash Meadows, Nye County, NV
(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 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.
BLM -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public land under their control (43 CFR 4140). Also
responsible for management/recovery of Bureau of Land
Management lands.
NPS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public lands under their control. Also responsible
for conservation (Nat. Park System Organic Act - 16
U.S.C. 1, 2-3)/management/recovery on National Park
Service lands. Taking, possessing, or disturbing of
Federally listed species is prohibited on NPS lands
(36 CFR 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3).

Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
Date 13 MAR 96

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: Nevada
DESIGNATED STATUS: Threatened
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Nevada Department of Forestry
STATE STATUTE: Protection and Propagation of Selected Species of
the Native Flora Act, Nev. Rev. Stat. 527.050,
and 527.260-527.300.

STATE: California
DESIGNATED STATUS: Threatened
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: California Dept. of Fish and Game
STATE STATUTE: California Endangered Species Act; Fish and Game
Code Chapt. 1.5, Article 1, Sec. 2050.

INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
Centaurium namophilum is listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red
Data Book, 1980.

ECONOMIC STATUSES:
None.

83/10/13:48 FR 46590/46597 - Proposed rule
84/04/10:49 FR 14152/14153 - Reopening of comment period
85/05/20:50 FR 20777/20794 - Listed threatened w/ Crit. Hab.

Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS

HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
INLAND AQUATIC
TERRESTRIAL

LAND USE -
Herbaceous Rangeland
Shrub and Brush Rangeland
Nonforested Wetland

NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES

NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC

Palustrine UB3

COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The only known populations of Centaurium namophilum are found
along the Amargosa River drainage in Ash Meadows, Nye County, Nevada
(01). This species grows in riparian areas in mesic Distichlis
meadows along with scattered Fraxinus velutina var. coriacea, and
borders springs and streams which dot the northern and eastern
sections of Ash Meadows (01,03,04,05). C. namophilum also occurs on
alkaline clay soils of the low uplands where some seepage water is
apparently available (01,03,04,05). On drier sites this species is
associated with Ivesia eremica, Cordylanthus tecopensis, and Cleomella
brevipes whereas on wetter sites it grows with Sisyrinchium funereum
and Grindelia fraxino-pratensis (01). Today C. namophilum is
restricted to a few remnant areas of meadow vegetation and
free-flowing water from the springs (01). Overgrazing by feral and
domestic horses indicates pasture areas are present and are a source
of the plants destruction. This pasture area is not managed as
grazing land. This species is found at elevations between 2200 and
2300 feet (05).
In Ash Meadows the rainfall averages 3 to 5 inches per year;
precipitation falls mainly in the autumn and winter with some sporadic
summer rains (06). Summers are hot; winters are cool (06). Daily
temperature ranges are extreme year round (06). No specific data is
available on the local moisture regime or climate for the specific
areas that C. namophilum inhabits (06).
Information regarding environmental parameters such as
temperature, soil profile, percent ground cover, canopy closure, cover
height, etc., is not available.

Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
Date 13 MAR 96

FOOD HABITS

TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH

Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
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 Aquatic Features: Springs [flowing]
G Terrestrial Features: Depressions
G
G

Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
Date 13 MAR 96

LIFE HISTORY

HABIT:
The spring-loving centaury is an herb (01).

LIFE CYCLE:
Annual (01,03,04).

TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Sexual (01).

REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
Flowering occurs from July to September (01). Fruiting occurs
in October. Nothing is known about the other reproductive stages.

SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
Monoecious (01).

POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Unknown.

SEED BIOLOGY:
Unknown.

POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Centaurium namophilum is endemic to mesic to wet alkaline clay
soils along the banks of streams or in seepage areas of the low
uplands; water availability is probably a limiting factor for this
species (01,03,04). This species is locally common, but these spring
sites are rare in the desert (04). C. namophilum depends on the
condition of the springs for its own survival and is threatened by
reductions in free-flowing water (04). Since 1968 the number of
locations and the extent of still available sites have been greatly
reduced (04). This species is presently restricted to a small portion
of Ash Meadows and extinct at Tecopa and Furnace Creek (04).

ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
Centaurium namophilum is found in mesic Distichlis meadows near
springs which dot the northern and eastern section of Ash Meadows
(01). This species also occurs on the alkaline clay soils of the low
uplands where some seepage water is available (01). C. namophilum is
restricted to the few remnants of meadows vegetation and free-flowing
water from the springs (01). The elevation of Ash Meadows is
approximately 685 meters (2200-2340 feet) (05). This species is
threatened by the diversion of surface spring flow (03) and trampling
and grazing by wild horses (04), as well as human visitors to the
springs.

TROPHIC STATUS:
Phototrophic.

CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
Component.
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
Date 13 MAR 96

COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
Centaurium namophilum grows in mesic Distichlis spicata var.
stricta meadows with scattered Fraxinus velutina var. coricea and
Prosopis pubescens (01). In drier regions it is found with Ivesia
eremica, Cordylanthus tecopensis and Cleomella brevipes (01). In
wetter areas this species associates with Sisyrinchium funercum and
Grindelia fraxino-pratesis (01).

SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
None.

OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.

Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
Date 13 MAR 96

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE

Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Maintaining/Controlling Water Flow
Beneficial Controlling water levels
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Mining
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Road Maintainance Actions
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Water Right Acquisition
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Agricultural Practice
Beneficial Reforestation
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Nonnative Vegetation
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Feral Animals
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Domestic Animals
Adverse Incidental Capturing/Killing
Existing Incidental Capturing/Killing
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Surface Mines
Existing Surface Mines
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 Strip mining
Existing Strip mining
Adverse Groundwater drawdown
Existing Groundwater drawdown
Adverse Irrigating
Existing Irrigating
Adverse Dredging
Existing Dredging
Adverse Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Existing Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Adverse Grazing
Existing Grazing
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Vegetation Composition Changes
Existing Vegetation Composition Changes

COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
In May of 1985, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined
Centaurium namophilum as well as six other rare plant species in Ash
Meadows as endangered and designated their habitat as critical (03).
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
Date 13 MAR 96

The Service took this action because the species are restricted to the
Ash Meadows region and were facing intensifying threats (03). Recent
loss of habitat due to agricultural and municipal development
activities, land clearing for road construction through riparian
areas, ground water removal and surface spring diversion, and local
mining activities all threatened the species habitat and ultimately
their survival (03).
Because of the availability of free-flowing potable water from
more than 20 springs as well as the plains-like nature of the land,
Ash Meadows appears to have agricultural possibilities (07). For over
a century attempts have been made to farm in this region, but these
efforts have failed because the saline, clay soils are unsuitable for
crops (07). The early homesteaders abandoned their agricultural
attempts before they had seriously modified the region (06,07).
Ash Meadows remained largely intact until 1967 when an out-of-
state corporation purchased large tracts (approximately 20 square
miles) in the northern and eastern regions (07). The corporation, in
its attempt to farm the land, plowed large areas of land and installed
pumps at the springs (07). These alterations virtually obliterated
the natural features of the area including Carson Slough and its
surrounding vegetation (07). This attempt at agriculture also failed
(07). It was abandoned in 1975 before the corporation was able to
launch a cattle feeding project which would have further exploited the
water resources in Ash Meadows (07).
Because this species is restricted to natural spring drainages
(04), a primary threat to its survival has been a reduction in its
riparian habitat (03,04) through ground water depletion, water
diversion, spring alteration causing decreases in spring discharges,
as well as peat mining in Carson Slough during the early 1960s (03).
Because of this recent exploitation of the water resources for
agricultural development, the number of locations and the extent of
still available sites have been drastically reduced in the last twenty
years (04). Today C. namophilum is restricted to only a small portion
of Ash Meadows (04).
In Inyo County, California, water availability has also effected
the species survival (04). In Tecopa Springs, springs were controlled
for bathing reducing the amount of natural drainage along which plants
could live. Changes since 1915, in the spring area of lower Furnace
Creek, Death Valley National Monument, NV, resulted in a serious
reduction of available water (04). This species is extinct at both
California sites (03).
Trampling and grazing by feral as well as domestic horses also
threaten C. namophilum (03,06). The horses, protected by the Wild
Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971, are allowed to roam free in
areas they can access (06). In addition, trampling by humans
attracted to the springs is a potentially serious threat to the
species.
Since 1968 the number of locations and the extent of still
available sites have been greatly reduced (04). This species is
presently restricted to a small portion of Ash Meadows and extinct at
Tecopa and Furnace Creek (04).

Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
Date 13 MAR 96

UNAPPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. Recovery Plan for the
Endangered and Threatened Species of Ash Meadows, NV. Agency Draft.
U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Portland, OR. 169 pp.

The primary objective of the "Recovery Plan for the Endangered
and Treatened Species of Ash Meadows, Nevada" is to reclassify the
endangered-threatened populations to non-listed status by restoring
and protecting habitat which can support viable, self-sustaining
populations. The size and extent of populations need to be determined
for most species, and the habitats of all species except the spring-
loving centaury occur within the Ash Meadows essential habitat.
Reclassification of the spring-loving centaury may be considered when
threats have been removed and when habitats/populations have been
restored for a period of ten years and to specified levels (as
determined through research).
The general criteria for reclassifying/delisting the spring-
loving centaury is summarized as follows:

A) Protect Ash Meadows aquifer to maintain soil moisture (water
table) conditions in Ash Meadows and other historic sites;
B) Determine historic distribution and population size by
surveying existing and potential habitats, and reviewing the
literature;
C) Reestablish wetland habitat to support populations throughout
its historic range. The extent of these habitats and size of
these colonies to be determined by research;
D) Secure habitat and water rights as is shown necessary by
research;
E) Eliminate introduced plant species;
F) Enforce State and Federal laws and regulations;
G) Implement a public information and education program;
H) Limit human access to spring areas to prevent trampling;
I) Control and restrict development, agricultural practices, and
mining operations; and
J) Control or remove domestic and feral animals from area to
prevent trampling and grazing.

Management Practices - 3 (DRAFT) - References
Species CENTAURY, SPRING-LOVING
Species Id ESIS701040
Date 13 MAR 96

References

***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****

01 Reveal, J.L., C.R. Broome and J.C. Beatley. 1973. A new
Centaurium (Gentianceae) from the Death Valley region of Nevada and
California Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. 100:353-356.
02 Broome, C.R. 1981. A new variety of Centaurium namophilum
(Gentiaceae) from the Great Basin. Great Basin Naturalist.
41:192-197.
03 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Final rule for seven plants
and one insect in Ash Meadows, NV. Fed. Reg. Vol. 50, No. 97. pp.
20777-20794.
04 Reveal, J.L. 1978. Centaurium namophilum Reveal, Broome &
Beatley. Mentzelia the Jour. of the Northern Nev. Native Plant
Soc. 3:20-24.
05 Beatley, J.C. 1977. Endangered plant species of the Nevada test
site, Ash Meadows, and central-southern Nevada. U.S. Energy Res.
and Dev. Admin. Contract E(11-1)-2307, COO-2307-11. Cincinati,
Ohio. 77 pp.
06 Reveal, J.L. 1978. Astragalus phoenix Barneby (Ash Meadows milk
vetch). U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. and Bur. of Land Mgmt.
07 Beatley, J.C. 1978. Ash Meadows: Nevada's unique oasis in the
Mojave Desert. Mentzelia The Journal of the Northern Nev. Native
Plant Soc. 3:20-24.

***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****

References - 1