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Plant Profile

Houston Machaeranthera (Rayjacksonia aurea)

Yellow flowers of this herbaceous perennial appear in October and November. Photo Credit: Greg Wieland

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Asteraceae
State: TX
Nature Serve ID: 133649
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/09/1992

Description:

The Houston camphor daisy's range spans only Galveston and Harris counties. It is a tap-rooted annual member in the sunflower family with attractive golden-yellow camphor-scented flowers in October and November. Although it can grow up to waist high in cultivation, in its characteristically harsh native environment, it is often found hugging the ground and growing only a few inches high. Houston camphor daisy is often associated with the rare endemic plants, Texas windmill grass, Chloris texensis and prairie dawn, Hymenoxys texana.

Where is Houston Machaeranthera (Rayjacksonia aurea) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Coastal prairies of Harris and Galveston Counties, Texas. Historically occurs on """"pimple"""" or """"mima"""" mounds, natural bare spots in these native coastal prairies.

Distribution:

Coastal prairies of Harris and Galveston Counties, Texas. Historically occurs on """"pimple"""" or """"mima"""" mounds, natural bare spots in these native coastal prairies. Poole(2000) reports that there are 26 r

States & Provinces:

Houston Machaeranthera can be found in Texas

Which CPC Partners conserve Houston Machaeranthera (Rayjacksonia aurea)?

Mercer Botanic Gardens

Conservation Actions

09/27/2020

Mercer also banks subsets of rare seeds collected from field surveys and from propagation work with our collaborating CPC institution, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX and the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) in Ft. Collins, CO (formerly called the National Seed Storage Laboratories).

09/27/2020

Seeds from several sites within Harris County were collected by Dr. Larry Brown of Houston Community College and Ralph Taylor of the Harris County Flood Control District and are stored at Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. Banked seeds date to 1994.

09/27/2020

Germination and growth to maturity studies performed at Mercer by Greg Wieland. Plants are propagated by seed.

09/27/2020

Seed has been harvested at Mercer from its off-site conservation beds.

09/27/2020

Mercer Arboretum maintains a thriving permanent public display of this plant in the Endangered Species Garden.

09/27/2020

Six sites in Harris County have had seeds banked.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Both rare and local. Endemic to remnant prairies in Harris and Galveston Counties, Texas. There are about 20 occurrences. Threatened by development around Houston, and by competition from woody vegetation and non-native grasses (Center for Plant Conservation n.d.).

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

A major threat comes from development of the coastal prairie habitat that this species relies upon, especially in and around Houston. Current populations are under threat from competition by woody vegetation and require mowing or controlled burning (Pr

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

Less than 20 populations (Wieland 1996). Some sites in E. Texas in Harris and Galveston Counties. Six sites in Harris County have had seeds banked. Poole(2000) reports that there are 26 records from Texas, approximately 50% from 1980 or later. Sites occur on both private and public lands. This plant is under current review for possible federal listing as either endangered or threatened.

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

Mercer Arboretum maintains a thriving permanent public display of this plant in the Endangered Species Garden. These display plants vigorously reseed themselves within this Endangered Species Garden. Seed has been harvested at Mercer from its off-site conservation beds. Germination and growth to maturity studies performed at Mercer by Greg Wieland. Plants are propagated by seed. Seeds from several sites within Harris County were collected by Dr. Larry Brown of Houston Community College and Ralph Taylor of the Harris County Flood Control District and are stored at Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. Banked seeds date to 1994. Mercer also banks subsets of rare seeds collected from field surveys and from propagation work with our collaborating CPC institution, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX and the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) in Ft. Collins, CO (formerly called the National Seed Storage Laboratories).

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

Monitoring is being coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office in Houston.

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

This plant is under current review for possible federal listing as either endangered or threatened. Poole (2000) states that a survey of all sites should determine the population, viability, threat and land ownership. The establishment of a conservation agreement with the Corp of Engineers in lieu of listing may protect the majority of the populations.

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

Expansion of seed bank. Identification of potential reintroduction sites. Public education of these plants and associated endemics.