North Park Phacelia / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

North Park Phacelia (Phacelia formosula)

Full view of flowering plant. Note the pinnately dissected leaves and purple flowers Photo Credit: Carol Dawson
  • Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Hydrophyllaceae
  • State: CO
  • Nature Serve ID: 138184
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987
Description:

Phacelia formosula is known from multiple populations in the erosive sandstone outcrops of the Coalmont Formation in North Park of Jackson County, Colorado. It was first discovered on August 6, 1918 by the Colorado botanist, George Osterhout. Other sites were not identified until 1981. There are ten identified populations of North Park phacelia with the majority of plants located in only two sites (USFWS 1986). Ongoing work is investigating the identiy of Larimer County Phacelia populations. Phacelia formosula has many stiff hairs on branching or single, upright stems. The leaves are highly divided and the purple flowers bloom from July to August. This species is a biennial or short-lived perennial. It was first listed as an endangered species in 1982 (USFWS 1982).

Where is North Park Phacelia (Phacelia formosula) located in the wild?

Habitat:

This species grows on sandy soils in sparsely vegetated areas of the Coalmont Formation. It can also be found growing on the side of steep ravines or sandy hills (USFWS 1982, 1986, Spackman et al. 1997).

Distribution:

Phacelia formosula is a Colorado endemic. It is found in North Park, Jackson County (USFWS 1986), with ongoing work to determine the identity of Phacelia populations in Larimer County.

States & Provinces:

North Park Phacelia can be found in Colorado

Which CPC Partners conserve North Park Phacelia (Phacelia formosula)?

  • Denver Botanic Gardens

    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

    Alexandra Seglias
    • 01/03/2022

    As part of the IMLS seed longevity project, seeds from Phacelia formosula were recollected in 2021 from the same population as an accession from 1987. The location from the original accession was easily discerned by old information and Element Occurrence Records from the Colorado Natural Heritage Program Seed was collected by maternal line in August from Brownee State Wildlife Area in Jackson County, Colorado. 800 of the seeds were sent to NLGRP for RNA testing and an accelerated ageing experiment, and the rest of the seeds will be stored at Denver Botanic Gardens at -20C. Viability of the seeds will be tested in 2022 and every five years after that.

    Center for Plant Conservation
    • 08/19/2021
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    In 2021, CPC contracted Denver Botanic Garden to recollect seed from a population currently held in long term orthodox seed storage as part of an IMLS-funded seed longevity experiment. The National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation will evaluate how germination tested viability and RNA Integrity of seed lots decline over time in storage.

    • 10/17/2020
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    There are currently 29 seed collections in storage, collected from 1987-2014.

    • 10/17/2020
      • Seed Collection

    There are currently 29 seed collections in storage, collected from 1987-2014.

    • 10/17/2020
      • Reproductive Research

    Research efforts include studies of population and pollination ecology (USFWS 1986, Warren 1990).

    • 10/17/2020
      • Demographic Research

    Research efforts include studies of population and pollination ecology (USFWS 1986, Warren 1990).

    • 10/17/2020
      • Genetic Research

    Denver Botanic Gardens completed a genetic diversity assessment on 15 populations of Phacelia throughout Jackson, Larimer, and Grand Counties. Additionally, microsatellite primers were developed to characterize genetic diversity across Phacelia species in this region (Riser et al. 2017).

    Alexandra Seglias
    • 12/20/2017

    There are currently 29 seed collections in storage, collected from 1987-2014.

    Alexandra Seglias
    • 12/20/2017

    Denver Botanic Gardens completed a genetic diversity assessment on 15 populations of Phacelia throughout Jackson, Larimer, and Grand Counties. Additionally, microsatellite primers were developed to characterize genetic diversity across Phacelia species in this region (Riser et al. 2017).

    Nature Serve Biotics
    • 05/02/2017

    A narrow endemic of an area known as North Park in northern Colorado. There are currently 13 known occurrences (only 10 with positive identification) with annually fluctuating populations sizes. The species is restricted to outcrops of the Coalmont Formation - a coal-bearing substrate that is very susceptible to erosion and is often used by off-road vehicle enthusiasts. Coal extraction and domestic cattle grazing are also threats. The rank may change to G1G2 or G2, if Phacelia plants documented in the Laramie River Valley during 2004 are determined to be Phacelia formosula. However, initial research indicates that the Laramie River Valley population is a separate species. Until a final determination has been made with both morphological and genetic traits, we will maintain the Laramie River occurrences here, with Phacelia formosula.

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Threats include off-road vehicle disturbance, livestock grazing, coal, oil and gas exploration (USFWS 1986).

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Phacelia formosula is found in less than 10 locations and only two sites harbor significant numbers. (USFWS 1986)

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Research efforts include studies of population and pollination ecology (USFWS 1986, Warren 1990).

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Monitoring and recovery efforts are being undertaken by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Research needs include population dynamics, habitat requirements for seedling establishment and recruitment.

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Seed collection and storage.

    MORE

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Phacelia formosula
    Authority Osterhout
    Family Hydrophyllaceae
    CPC Number 3354
    ITIS 31493
    USDA PHFO2
    Duration Annual
    Common Names North Park Phacelia
    Associated Scientific Names Phacelia formosula
    Distribution Phacelia formosula is a Colorado endemic. It is found in North Park, Jackson County (USFWS 1986), with ongoing work to determine the identity of Phacelia populations in Larimer County.
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Colorado S1
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    Full view of flowering plant. Note the pinnately dissected leaves and purple flowers Photo Credit: Carol Dawson

    Close-up of flowers. Note the exerted styles and stamen. Photo Credit: USFWS

    The purple uncoiling flowering stems of North Park phacelia (Phacelia formosula). This member of the waterleaf family (Hydrophyllaceae) is found in “North Park” of north central Colorado, near the small town of Walden. The bright purple flowers and lobed leaf margins make this species easy to spot in July and August. The plant is a biennial, surviving for one year as a rosette of leaves before flowering and dying the following year. The plant is found on barren exposures of the Coalmont Formation that are easily eroded (see the habitat pictures). Photo Credit: USFWS © 2010

    Photo Credit: USFWS

    Plant with flowers and fruits present. Photo Credit: Jennifer Neale

    2021

    Photo Credit: Alex Seglias

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