(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
Species Id ESIS701042
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
OTHER COMMON NAMES - BUCKWHEAT and STEAMBOAT
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Angiosperm
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MAGNOLIOPHYTA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAGNOLIOPSIDA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - POLYGONALES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - POLYGONACEAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - ERIOGONUM,
SPECIES AND SSP - OVALIFOLIUM, VAR.
SCIENTIFIC NAME - ERIOGONUM OVALIFOLIUM VAR.
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Steamboat Buckwheat
Eriogonum ovalifolium var. williamsiae Reveal
KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Angiosperm
DIVISION: Magnoliophyta CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Polygonales FAMILY: Polygonaceae
The steamboat buckwheat (Eriogonum ovalifolium var. williamsiae)
was described by James Reveal (03) in 1981 as a new variety of
E. ovalifolium. It is a member of the buckwheat family
(Polygonaceae), and was named in honor of Margaret J. Williams, a
founding member of the Northern Nevada Native Plant Society. The
plants consist of small, tight rosettes of oval to almost round
greenish-white leaves which form compact mats from two to 18 inches
across. The mats are sometimes dome-shaped due to deposition of
windblown sand which the plant gradually grows over. Leaves vary from
1/8 to 3/8 inch in length, and from 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide. Leaves are
covered on both sides with dense, short hairs. The erect flowering
stalks are up to eight inches tall, and flowers are small (1/8 inch)
and clustered in groups of 5-8 at the tip of the stalk. Flowers
turn from white to pinkish-tan with age (03,06).
Herbarium specimens of the species are contained in herbaria at
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
Species Id ESIS701042
Date 13 MAR 96
the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, Nevada; the University of
Nevada, Reno, Department of Biology; and the California Academy of
Science, San Francisco. The holotype is deposited at the U.S.
National Herbarium, Smithsonian Institute and 20 isotypes are at the
University of Maryland herbarium, College Park, Maryland (06).
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
Species Id ESIS701042
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
E: Federal Endangered
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The steamboat buckwheat (Eriogonum ovalifolium var. williamsiae)
has been designated as Endangered 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 Nevada.
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 variety 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.
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 on Bureau of Land
Management lands.
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: Endangered
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
Species Id ESIS701042
Date 13 MAR 96
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Nevada Department of Forestry
STATE STATUTE: NV Revised Statute 527.260-527.300 and 527.050
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
None.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
None.
85/09/12:50 FR 37252/37255 - Proposed rule
85/09/27:50 FR 39526/39527 - Notice of Review
85/11/26:50 FR 48617 - Comment period extension
86/07/08:51 FR 24669/24672 - Final rule - listed as Endangered
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
LAND USE -
Commercial and Services
Transportation, communications, and Util
Mixed Rangeland
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The steamboat buckwheat occurs most commonly on open slopes
in gravelly, sandy-clay soil, derived from hot springs deposits
around the Steamboat Springs geothermal area 10 miles south of Reno,
Nevada. The associated plant community is desert shrub, and
commonly includes saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia), greasewood
(Sacobatus vermicularis, rubber rabbitbush (Crysothamnus nauseosus),
snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), and desert saltgrass (Distichlis
spicata stricta). The habitat varies from 4,580 to 4,720 feet in
elevation. The buchwheat occurs in distant patches, some including
only a few individuals and some with several thousands individuals,
scattered over an area of less than 100 acres (01,06).
Williams (06) found most buckwheat plants growing on slight
slopes, generally facing east. She found no plants in low depressed
areas, in seepage areas, or along hot springs ouflows, and suggested
that the plants might not be tolerant of moist soils. A subsequent
study by Hill (01) found that the buckwheat grew only on sinter
deposits, or on alluvium with sinter intermixed, and did not occur
on deep soils or on purely alluvial soils. This same study also
stated that buckwheat-inhabited soils were generally young and
undeveloped and defied classification, but were generally coarse
gravel and sand. Soil moisture varied with depth: average value for
surface to 2 inch depth was 5 %, while medium depth soils above
bedrock averaged 8.6 %. The fragmented fine gravel consistency of
the sinter material apparently precludes any significant movement,
via capillary action, from deep areas upward to the root zone. The
Hill (01) study concluded that steamboat buckwheat does not grow on
moist soils; did not receive supplemental moisture from thermal water;
may not tolerate high moisture conditions and associated high levels
of sodium, potassium, and choloride; and may receive adequate
moisture from rainfall to survive in at least some portions of its
range.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
Species Id ESIS701042
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
Species Id ESIS701042
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 Aquatic Features: Springs [flowing]
G
G
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
Species Id ESIS701042
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
HABIT:
The steamboat buckwheat is a shrub (06).
LIFE CYCLE:
Perennial (06).
TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Sexual (06).
REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
Germination dates are unknown. Leafing occurs yearlong, budding
in late April to May, anthesis from May to June, and fruiting and seed
dispersal dates are unknown for steamboat buckwheat ()6).
SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
Monoecious (06).
POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Pollen dissemination agents are unknown, and possible seed
dissemination is by wind (06).
SEED BIOLOGY:
Seed biology is unknown. Margaret Williams (06) has searched
seed during several years and has failed to locate any.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Unknown.
ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
With minor exceptions, the hot springs deposits of the Steamboat
thermal area are all sinters (siliceous). Some carbonate (travertine)
layers are produced, but are rapidly weathered, and dissolved by
sulfuric acid which forms from oxidation of H2S at the surface. The
sinter deposits overlay Lahontan lacustrine deposits and volcanic
flows of the Lousetown formation (05). Soils are immature, gravelly,
sandy-clay in nature, and defy classification (01,06). No SCS soil
profiles have been completed for the specific area and soils where the
buckwheat occurs. Soils of the area are orthid aridisoils.
Soil moisture is low, averaging 5 % at the surface, and 11.5 % at
the 6 to 12 inch primary rooting depth (01). Williams (06) found
most plants growing on slight slopes, generally facing east, and
suggested that the species might not tolerate moist soils. This was
confirmed by a subsequent study (01) which also concluded that
steamboat buckwheat did not receive supplmental moisture from
thermal water, may not tolerate high moisture conditions, and may
receive adequate moisture from rainfall to survive in some areas.
Plants grow at an elevation between 4,580 to 4,720 feet (06).
TROPHIC STATUS:
Nothing else is known about its trophic status other than it is
phototrophic (06).
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
Species Id ESIS701042
Date 13 MAR 96
CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
The steamboat buckwheat tends to be the most common plant in the
scattered, specific areas where it occurs. Line intercept transects
established by Hill (01) found the buckwheat to be the most
frequently encountered plant along the transects, accounting for the
highest perecentage of total vegetated ground cover of any species
on four of the six transects. Few other species seem to occur in
the gravelly, incompletely developed soils where the buckwheat
flourishes. The Hill (01) study found that the steamboat buckwheat
appeared to colonize this soil type and was the first plant to adapt
to the slowly maturing soil as conditions for growth improved due to
leaching of soluble chemicals. With eventual development of more
soil, other plants are able to occupy the site and out-compete the
buckwheat which then declines or disappears completely in some sites
(01).
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
The associated plant community is desert shrub, and commonly
includes saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia), greasewood (Sacobatus
vermicularis, rubber rabbitbush (Crysothamnus nauseosus), snakeweed
(Gutierrezia sarothrae), and desert saltgrass (Distichlis spicata
stricta). Other species occurring occasionally include sagebrush
(Artemesia tridentata), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), basin wild-rye
(Elymus cinereus), Stipa thurberiana, Poa nevadensis, Erigeron
aphanactis, Erysimum capitatum, Mimulus ovatus, Ermocarpus setigerus,
Chaenactis douglasii, Eriogonum baileyi, E. wrightii, E. lobbii var.
robustum, Astragalus purshii var. tinctus, Machaerantha canescens,
Franseria acanthicarpa, and Mentzelia laevicaulis (01,06).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
Unknown.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
Species Id ESIS701042
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Off-Road Vehicles
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Controlling water levels
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Mining
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Adverse Off Road Vehicles
Existing Off Road Vehicles
Adverse Surface Mines
Existing Surface Mines
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
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The steamboat buckwheat occurs naturally in a very limited
habitat adjacent to the rapidly growing Reno/Sparks urban area. The
native habitat includes less than 100 acres and is bisected by
U.S. Highway 395, which eliminated a substantial portion of the
species habitat. Construction of a U.S. Post Office facility
several years ago also eliminated habitat. Additionally, all of
the habitat east of Highway 395 is private and subject to commercial
development, as is much of the habitat west of the highway. A large
mobile home park is currently being constructed which will eliminate
habitat presently occupied by the buckwheat. Habitat has been
disturbed throughout the species' area of occurrence due to
uncontrolled vehicular traffic and garbage dumping. A small portion
of the hot springs terrace area has been previously mined for
extraction of various metals (04,06).
Future threats include commercial development of private lands,
geothermal development, and a realignment of U.S. Highway 395 (02,04,
06). Two geothermal projects are currently operating on private and
BLM land immediately west of the area inhabited by the steamboat
buckwheat. Although neither development has directly impacted
buckwheat habitat, both facilities are operating from the same
geothermal aquifer that supplies the hot springs, and could eventually
affect the springs' discharge and thus affect the buckwheat. The
tentative realignment route for Highway 395 will cut directly through
the western portion of the buckweat's occupied habitat, as presently
understood (04,06).
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
No recovery plan has been initiated for the steamboat buckwheat, nor
has a target date been set.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
Species Id ESIS701042
Date 13 MAR 96
No recovery plan currently exists, or is in preperation. Future
recovery actions will emphasize controlling/restricting development
and vehicular traffic on private lands, most likely through acquistion
of the most important habitat occurring on private lands. Additional
protection is also necessary for habitat on BLM lands, primarily from
unauthorized vehicular traffic. Other actions will include
controlling/restricting mining operations, and maintaining the
water table.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species BUCKWHEAT, STEAMBOAT
Species Id ESIS701042
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 CH2M Hill. 1986. Factors affecting the distribution of Eriogonum
ovalifolium var. williamsiae at Steamboat Springs. Rept. To:
Western States Geothermal Company. 36 pp. (Available from:
U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Reno, NV).
02 Mozingo, H.N., and M. Williams. 1980. Threatened and endangered
plants of Nevada - an illustrated manual. U.S. Fish and Wildl.
Serv., Portland, OR, and U.S. Bureau of Land Mgmt., Reno, NV.
268 pp.
03 Reveal, J. 1981. Notes on endangered buckwheats with three
newly described forms from the western United States. Brittonia
3 (3):446.
04 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. Endangered and threatened
wildlife and plants; determination of endangered status for
Eriogonum ovalifolium var. williamsiae (Steamboat buckwheat).
Final rule. July 8, 1986 Fed. Reg., Vol. 51, No. 130:24669-24672.
05 White, D.E., G.A. Thompson, and C.H. Sandberg. 1964. Rocks,
structure, and geologic history of Steamboat Springs thermal area,
Washoe County, Nevada. U.S. Geologic Surv. Prof. Paper 458-B.
06 Williams, M. 1982. Status report on Eriogonum ovalifolium var.
williamsiae. Unpubl. rept. to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Reno, NV. 30 pp.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 CH2M Hill. 1986. Factors affecting the distribution of Eriogonum
ovalifolium var. williamsiae at Steamboat Springs. Rept. To:
Western States Geothermal Company. 36 pp. (Available from: U.S.
Fish and Wildl. Serv., Reno, NV).
02 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. Endangered and threatened
wildlife and plants; determination of endangered status for
Eriogonum ovalifolium var. williamsiae (Steamboat buckwheat).
Final rule. July 8, 1986. Fed. Reg., Vol. 51, No. 130:24669-24672.
03 Williams, M. 1982. Status report on Eriogonum ovalifolium var.
williamsiae. Unpubl. rept. to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Reno, NV. 30 pp.
References - 1