Dudley Bluffs Bladderpod / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Dudley Bluffs Bladderpod (Physaria congesta)

View of this extremely small (less than 2 cm across) cushion plant. Note the linear silvery leaves. Photo Credit: Carol Dawson
  • Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Threatened
  • Family: Brassicaceae
  • State: CO
  • Nature Serve ID: 137180
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987
Description:

Lesquerella congesta, a herbaceous perennial, has bright yellow flowers that bloom in April and May in a dense cluster. Although the bright color stands out against the barren, white shale habitat, these plants are hard to see, being typically less than 2 cm across. A very long, thin taproot supports a single tight crown. The leaves are spatulate and hairy. Semi-spherical fruits form in late May or June. (Von Bargen 1997) Since 1982, five new species have been found in the Piceance Basin, Lesquerella congesta was one of them. It was found in Dudley Bluffs, a designated area of critical environmental concern (BLM land designation). The area is underlain by a wealth of oil shale so possible mining is a concern. The basin is poorly known botanically, so more species are likely to be found as exploration continues.

Where is Dudley Bluffs Bladderpod (Physaria congesta) located in the wild?

Habitat:

L. congesta is found along drainages on barren white outcrops of the Green River and Uinta Formations exposed through erosion from downcutting of streams, level surfaces at the points of ridges, oil shale outcrops in the multimineral oil shale zone. Elev. 6000-6700 ft. (Spackman 1997).

Distribution:

L. congesta is endemic to the Piceance Basin of Colorado (Rio Blanco Co.). (Colorado Native Plant Society 1997) There are seven known occurrences all of them within a 16 km range. Most of this species

States & Provinces:

Dudley Bluffs Bladderpod can be found in Colorado

Which CPC Partners conserve Dudley Bluffs Bladderpod (Physaria congesta)?

  • Denver Botanic Gardens

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    Silver Sponsor

    Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

    Denver Botanic Garden

    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

    • 10/08/2020
      • Living Collection

    The Denver Botanic Gardens has several thousand seeds in short and long-term storage as part of the Center for Plant Conservation's national collection of endangered plants. Additionally, this species is has been cultivated in the Endangered Species Garden at DBG.

    • 10/08/2020
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    The Denver Botanic Gardens has several thousand seeds in short and long-term storage as part of the Center for Plant Conservation's national collection of endangered plants. Additionally, this species is has been cultivated in the Endangered Species Garden at DBG.

    • 10/08/2020
      • Seed Collection

    The Denver Botanic Gardens has several thousand seeds in short and long-term storage as part of the Center for Plant Conservation's national collection of endangered plants. Additionally, this species is has been cultivated in the Endangered Species Garden at DBG.

    Nature Serve Biotics
    • 05/02/2017

    Endemic to the Piceance Basin in Rio Blanco County of northwestern Colorado. Although there are 7 occurrences currently known, they are all within a 35 mile range, and are imminently threatened by oil and gas extraction, particularly oil shale mining, and surface mining for sodium mineral deposits.

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Threats in include surface disturbances, mining potential development (USFWS 1990, 1993).

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Approximately 10,000 individuals at the junction of Piceance Creek and Ryan Gulch, 2 miles north of Dudley Bluffs (Spackman 1997).

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    None known.

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    The Denver Botanic Gardens has several thousand seeds in short and long-term storage as part of the Center for Plant Conservation's national collection of endangered plants. Additionally, this species is has been cultivated in the Endangered Species Garden at DBG.

    Michelle DePrenger-Levin
    • 01/01/2010

    Management need include enforcing protection laws. Research needs include understanding this species reproductive biology and ecology, habitat requirements for all life stages and population dynamics.

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Physaria congesta
    Authority (Rollins) O'Kane & Al-Shehbaz
    Family Brassicaceae
    CPC Number 6371
    ITIS 823078
    USDA LECO10
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names Dudley Bluffs bladderpod
    Associated Scientific Names Lesquerella congesta | Physaria congesta
    Distribution L. congesta is endemic to the Piceance Basin of Colorado (Rio Blanco Co.). (Colorado Native Plant Society 1997) There are seven known occurrences all of them within a 16 km range. Most of this species
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Colorado S1
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    View of this extremely small (less than 2 cm across) cushion plant. Note the linear silvery leaves. Photo Credit: Carol Dawson
    Pollinators
    Common Name Name in Text Association Type Source InteractionID
    Bees
    Bees Confirmed Pollinator Link

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