Search / Plant Profile / Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus

Plant Profile

Coral-seeded Allocarya (Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus)

Closeup of white, 5-petaled flowers in situ. Photo Credit: Richard Brock

Global Rank: T1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Boraginaceae
State: OR
Nature Serve ID: 140361
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/09/1992

Description:

Plagiobothrys figuratus is a common and widespread plant found from Vancouver, British Columbia to southwestern Oregon. The more localized Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus is found at only 18 sites within a small area in the Middle Rogue River Basin and the Jenny Creek watershed in southwest Oregon. It is often hard to tell closely related Plagiobothrys species apart, and one needs the mature nutlet (fruit) in order to differentiate them. This has made it very difficult to survey for P. figuratus ssp. corallicarpus as it is easily confused with more common species. Perhaps for this reason, this species was once thought extinct. It was first collected and described in the early 1920's, but no collections were made from 1946 until its rediscovery in 1991 (Brock 1993). Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus is distinguished from nearby, related species by its large flowers (8-11mm wide), deeply ridged nutlets and a small attachment scars on the nutlets.

Where is Coral-seeded Allocarya (Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Vernal pool habitats in rocky, open areas in grassland meadows. The areas are wet in spring but very dry in summer (Knight and Seevers 1992).

Distribution:

OR: Klamath Mountains, West Cascades & Crest near Grant's Pass in Josephine County and Medford in Jackson County.

States & Provinces:

Coral-seeded Allocarya can be found in Oregon

Which CPC Partners conserve Coral-seeded Allocarya (Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus)?

Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank & Plant Conservation Program

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

09/23/2020

Seeds from 3 locations stored at the Berry Botanic Garden.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Low total number of plants in a very small area (33,000 to 62,000 plants in 0.5 sq. km.). Many of the occurrences are growing in areas experiencing high real estate development. Threats have a potentially high degree of impact.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Most sites (all but 2) are on private land and therefore would not be protected if this species were to be listed federally (ONHDB 2000). Cattle grazing (Brock 1993). Changes in local hydrology by re-channeling or removal of water from seasonal sprin

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Approximately 18 sites. Populations range from as few as 11-50 individuals to as many as 1,000-10,000. One population is on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and one is on city land while the remainder are on private land (ONHDB 2000).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Extensive searches in 1993 over the entire range (Brock 1993). No formal research known.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Seeds from 3 locations stored at the Berry Botanic Garden.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Work with private property owners to conserve habitat. Reduce cattle grazing. Continue surveying private and public lands in order to determine the full extent of the species' range and accurate population numbers (Brock 1993). Determine longevity of seeds in soil seed bank.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Collect and store seeds from across the species' range. Determine germination requirements. Determine propagation and reintroduction protocols.