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Plant Profile

Cronquist's Stickseed (Hackelia cronquistii)

The prickles on the fruit of Hackelia cronquistii give this plant its common name "stickseed." Photo Credit: Kagan/Joyal/Yamamoto

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Boraginaceae
State: ID, OR
Nature Serve ID: 156950
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/08/1989

Description:

Although Hackelia cronquistii can be quite showy, it has historically been overlooked. This perennial herb can range in size from about 6 inches to 2 feet tall (15-60 cm). Its small blue-tinged white flowers put on an attractive display. It was first collected in 1896, but only one population was known to exist until 1982. When searches were finally made between 1982 and 1985, an 15 additional populations were found. Many plants in remote locations go unnoticed. It makes one think how many other plants there may be out there, just waiting to be discovered. While there are threats to Hackelia cronquistii, their potential effects seem minimal at this time. The major threat is its limited distribution. Any random catastrophic event causing plant death or habitat loss would be disastrous to the survival of the species (Findley 1988). In areas where the land recently burned, the plants are thriving and many are blooming. In an area where an exclosure had been erected to exclude cattle grazing, plants are blooming and vigorous both inside and outside the exclosure (Findley 2001).

Where is Cronquist's Stickseed (Hackelia cronquistii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Exclusively on sandy and sandy-loam soils on north-facing slopes in association with big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) at elevations near 2060-2460 ft (630-750 m) in eastern Oregon and southwest Idaho.

Distribution:

The Owyhee uplands of southeastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho.

States & Provinces:

Cronquist's Stickseed can be found in Idaho, Oregon

Which CPC Partners conserve Cronquist's Stickseed (Hackelia cronquistii)?

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

09/15/2020

Germination trials at the Berry Botanic Garden resulted in a maximum germination of only 25%. Seeds subjected to 8 weeks of cold stratification followed by alternating 50/68F (10/20C) resulted in 25% germination (2 of 8 seeds). Straight 20C resulted in 11% (1 of 9 seeds). All other treatments yielded no germination. Seed had been stored for 9 years, so there is a possibility that it had lost some viability (BBG File).

09/15/2020

Seeds from 12 occurrences stored at The Berry Botanic Garden. The most recent collection is from 1991 (BBG File).

09/15/2020

Seeds from 12 occurrences stored at The Berry Botanic Garden. The most recent collection is from 1991 (BBG File).

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

A regional endemic of eastern Oregon and adjacent Idaho. There are about 52 populations known with a total of at least 30,000 plants.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Cattle Grazing (Meinke 1982). Herbicide use (Meinke 1982). Agricultural expansion, competition from seedlings (Meinke 1982). Off-road-vehicle/equestrian use (Findley 1988). Transfer of land from public to private (Findley 1988). Insecticide u

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

First collected in 1896 at Malheur Butte. As of 1982 only one extant population was known. As people started searching for this rare species, 15 more populations were found between 1982 and 1985. As of 1986, an estimated 8600 individual plants were thought to exist (Yamamoto et al. 1986). As of 2001, approximately 39 occurrences were known in Oregon. Population sizes range from 10 to as many as 10,000 with a total of between 29,000 and 50,000 individuals, although many sites have not been surveyed since the late 1980's or early 1990's. About half of the sites are on private land and half are on Bureau of Land Management (federal) land (ONHDB 2000). There is one listed occurrence in Idaho, which is on private land (ICC 1995).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Most populations are in areas that have been grazed historically (Yamamoto et al. 1986). Habitat Management Plan finalized in 1988. Includes provisions for studying threats, protecting populations by limiting herbicide use, grazing, insecticide use during flowering periods, and recreational access (Finldley 1988). Exclosures were constructed around several groups of plants for monitoring purposes and for excluding cattle (Findley 2001). Seeds from 12 occurrences stored at The Berry Botanic Garden. The most recent collection is from 1991 (BBG File).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Studies comparing grazed vs. ungrazed areas. (Meinke 1982). Immediate protection of any newly discovered populations (Meinke 1982). Studies on the effects of fire (Findley 1988).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Collect and store seeds from across range. Study seed germination and dormancy requirements (Yamamoto et al. 1986) Determine reliable propagation protocols. Develop reliable reintroduction protocols