In 1976 research was published on the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) family, including E. sparganophyllum, which was reported to have a 2n = 16 chromosome count.

In 2016 DBG provided seed to Pima County Nursery for a propagation experiment. Approximately 130 seedlings germinated from that experiment. The majority of the seedlings remain at Pima County Native Plant Nursery and are currently being maintained in the shade house for future outplanting at Agua Caliente Park and/or other suitable sites.

In 2016 DBG provided seed to Pima County Nursery for a propagation experiment. Approximately 130 seedlings germinated from that experiment. Ten of those seedlings were transferred to Boyce Thomson Arboretum, where they are being maintained in a shade house until outplanting can take place.

In 2016 DBG also provided 21 one-gallon potted plants to Pima County Native Plant Nursery for a transplant experiment. These individuals were later outplanted to different areas in Agua Caliente Park by a subcontractor in September and October of 2017. In 2018 a Pima County Native Plant Nursery began a new transplant experiment that is still underway as of October 2018. In 2018, Thirty-five of these seedlings were outplanted for a survivorship and monitoring experiment. Thirty were planted at different locations at Agua Caliente Park, and five were planted at La Cebedilla as a control.

In 2016 DBG provided seed to Pima County Nursery for a propagation experiment. Approximately 130 seedlings germinated from that experiment. In 2016 Pima County Native Plant Nursery conducted a seed germination experiment and transplant experiment. Cold stratification was required to break dormancy for the germination experiment. The transplant experiment provided some knowledge about survivorship under restoration conditions.

In 2015 through 2017 Desert Botanical Garden conducted seed germination experiments which revealed that: E. sparganophyllum seeds have morphophysiological dormancy. At seed maturity the embryos are differentiated but underdeveloped. Physiological dormancy can be broken by cold stratification at 5ºC or application of gibberelic acid.

Seeds from the DBG accessions have been sent to USDA NLGRP (Fort Collins, CO) for long term cold storage.

The National Tropical Botanical Garden has received 4,080 seeds from two of these DBG accessions, and maintains them in cold storage.

Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) has collected and is currently storing multiple seed accessions in cold storage that were collected in 2015 and 2016. (Approx. 20,000 seeds between all accessions):

Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) has collected and is currently storing multiple seed accessions in cold storage that were collected in 2015 and 2016. (Approx. 20,000 seeds between all accessions)

Number of Occurrences: 1 – 5.  The populations of this species are small, disjunct, and infrequently found even within its range. Reintroduction to Agua Caliente Park in Arizona has been attempted with little success so far.

• Long term monitoring of wild and transplanted populations to include information on:
  • lifespan
  • herbivores
  • pollinators/pollinator success
  • reproductive potential
  • patterns of seed dispersal, germination, and seedling establishment
  • effects of woody plant encroachment
  • ethnobotanical/medicinal potential—other plants in this genus produce cytotoxic and anti-inflamatory compounds
• Re-establish at sites with suitable habitat in order to increase the number of populations.
• Conservation through cultivation might be one avenue because other species in this genus are cultivated as ornamentals.

According to NatureServe and scientists researching this species the threats to Eryngium sparganophyllum are:

• Overall Threat Impact: The threat to Eryngium sparganophyllum is Very High to Medium. This species is primarily threatened due to the loss of its obligate riparian and marsh (wetland/ciénega) habitats. According to Makings (2013) this loss of habitat is due to disturbances associated with livestock grazing, groundwater extraction, woody species encroachment, and human development.
• Short-Term Trend: Recent trends indicates there has been a decline of 10%—50% in the population.
• Long-term Trend: Based on recent trends it is likely that there will be an eventual decrease of greater than 70% of the population due to approximately 95% loss of its obligate wetland/ciénega habitats to grazing, development, and other previously mentioned threats
• Intrinsic Vulnerability: Wetlands in the Southwest areas are often heavily disturbed due to grazing, groundwater pumping, and development, as well as introduction of non-native species and woody species encroachment that could potentially compete with E. sparganophyllum for resources.
• Environmental Specificity: E. sparganophyllum has a narrow environmental specificity due to its obligate wetland requirements.
• Conservation Considerations: E. sparganophyllum is rare and endangered in the United States—likely extirpated in New Mexico and limited to a few vulnerable ciénegas in Arizona.

• In 1976 research was published on the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) family, including E. sparganophyllum, which was reported to have a 2n = 16 chromosome count.
• In 2013 and 2014 Dustin Wolkis conducted research on multiple ciéngas in Arizona that included plant community composition and associated ecological data. E. sparganophyllum was part of the plant communities at one of these locations, which provided much needed information about this species including community composition and soil characteristics.
• In 2015 through 2017 Desert Botanical Garden conducted seed germination experiments which revealed that:
  • E. sparganophyllum seeds have morphophysiological dormancy. At seed maturity the embryos are differentiated but underdeveloped.
  • Physiological dormancy can be broken by cold stratification at 5ºC or application of gibberelic acid.
• In 2016 Pima County Native Plant Nursery conducted a seed germination experiment and transplant experiment.
  • Cold stratification was required to break dormancy for the germination experiment.
  • The transplant experiment provided some knowledge about survivorship under restoration conditions.
• In April 2018 demographic, ecological, and plant community information was collected from the wild Arizona populations.
• In 2018 a Pima County Native Plant Nursery began a new transplant experiment that is still underway as of October 2018.

• Restoration has been conducted at Agua Caliente Park in Arizona, a location where E. sparganophyllum had been extirpated. E. sparganophyllum has been reintroduced at this location via two different projects.
  • The first project conducted in 2016 was not very successful due to javelina digging them up and poor suitability of the planting locations (water stress, lack of regular root inundation, less than ideal soil characteristics, and possibly being planted too deep).
  • The second project at Agua Caliente Park that was started in 2018 to monitor the thirty individuals that were outplanted is still in progress. It will include population information, soil characteristics, and development of a long term monitoring protocol. These individuals are fenced off to prevent javelina from digging them or damage from other herbivores.
• In February 2017 E. sparganophyllum was added to the BLM sensitive list.
• As of March 1, 2018 the New Mexico Rare Plant List R-E-D Code for E. sparganophyllum is 2-3-1.
  • 2: occurrence confined to several populations or to one extended population
  • 3: endangered throughout its range
  • 1: more or less widespread outside New Mexico
• In April 2018 the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to have E. sparganophyllum listed as Endangered per the Endangered Species Act.
• Currently the Arizona Native Plant Law does not protect this plant from salvage or harvest.

Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) has collected and is currently storing multiple seed accessions in cold storage that were collected in 2015 and 2016. (Approx. 20,000 seeds between all accessions):

• The National Tropical Botanical Garden has received 4,080 seeds from two of these DBG accessions, and maintains them in cold storage.
• Seeds from the DBG accessions have been sent to USDA NLGRP (Fort Collins, CO) for long term cold storage.
• Desert Botanical Garden has germinated and raised from seed multiple individuals from these seed accessions.
  • One of these individuals is planted at DBG Oasis pond.
  • In 2016 DBG provided seed to Pima County Nursery for a propagation experiment. Approximately 130 seedlings germinated from that experiment.
    • Ten of those seedlings were transferred to Boyce Thomson Arboretum, where they are being maintained in a shade house until outplanting can take place.
    • The majority of the seedlings remain at Pima County Native Plant Nursery and are currently being maintained in the shade house for future outplanting at Agua Caliente Park and/or other suitable sites.
    • In 2018, Thirty-five of these seedlings were outplanted for a survivorship and monitoring experiment. Thirty were planted at different locations at Agua Caliente Park, and five were planted at La Cebedilla as a control.
  • In 2016 DBG also provided 21 one-gallon potted plants to Pima County Native Plant Nursery for a transplant experiment. These individuals were later outplanted to different areas in Agua Caliente Park by a subcontractor in September and October of 2017.