Pt. Reyes Bird's-beak / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Pt. Reyes Bird's-beak (Chloropyron maritimum ssp. palustre)

Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris's purple bracts and purple-tipped flowers. Photo Credit: Tom Kaye
  • Global Rank: T2 - Imperiled
  • Legal Status: N/A
  • Family: Orobanchaceae
  • State: CA, OR
  • Nature Serve ID: 129433
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 08/11/2022
Description:

The Point Reyes bird's-beak (Codylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris) is only found on the coastal beaches of northern California and Oregon. It was once found from Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County, California (about 200 miles south of San Francisco) to as far north as Tillamook County, Oregon. It is now found in scattered salt marshes from San Francisco Bay, CA to Tillamook County, OR, however, most populations are clustered around Coos Bay, Oregon and Humboldt Bay, California. Of the remaining populations, most are dangerously small and occur on private land. Since they are found on private land, many populations will not be protected even if the Point Reyes bird's-beak receives state Endangered listing in Oregon. Off Road Vehicle (ORV) use is the primary threat at it destroys Point Reyes bird's-beak's sensitive habitat. Off-road vehicles (ORV's) destroy plants and alter the habitat by creating deep ruts in the sand (see photo). Conservation of the few healthy populations in Oregon and Humboldt Bay, CA is critical to for the survival of this small annual.

Where is Pt. Reyes Bird's-beak (Chloropyron maritimum ssp. palustre) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris grows just above the high tide level in salt marshes scattered along the Pacific coast. It is found growing in a sandy substrate covered by a layer of organic silt with more than 70% vegetation cover. Associated species include: Salicornia virginica (Pickleweed), Polygonum Distichlis spicata (salt grass), and Jaumea carnosa (fleshy jaumea). The soil salinity is high, often 34-55 ppt (parts per thousand).

Distribution:

OR: Beaches southern Oregon (Tillamook, Lincoln, and Coos Counties) CA: Beaches of northern California

States & Provinces:

Pt. Reyes Bird's-beak can be found in California, Oregon

Which CPC Partners conserve Pt. Reyes Bird's-beak (Chloropyron maritimum ssp. palustre)?

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

Center for Plant Conservation
  • 08/18/2021
  • Orthodox Seed Banking

In 2021, CPC contracted the Institute for Applied Ecology 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.

  • 09/03/2020
  • Propagation Research

Seeds of Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus (found in Southern California) require six weeks of cold storage and fresh water for germination (Kaye 1991).

  • 09/03/2020
  • Reproductive Research

Flower dissection revealed that of Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus (a related species from southern California) is capable of self-fertilization. The pollen to ovule ratio is in the range expected for self-pollinating species. (Kaye 1991)

  • 09/03/2020
  • Genetic Research

Genetic analysis (using RAPD markers) of white and purple flowered populations found in Coos Bay Oregon to determine genetic variation within and between 6 populations was conducted by Victoria Mathis, a student at Gold Beach High School, Oregon. Her poster was presented at Northwest Scientific Association 2001 Annual Meetings held at Humboldt University, Arcata, CA.

  • 09/03/2020
  • Demographic Research

Habitat and ecological requirements of the species were studied to assist in future restoration activities. Distribution suggests that the species occupies sites with relatively high salinity (25-30 ppt), and that the specific location in marine estuaries is at the upper edge of low sandy marsh. Light disturbance with some open habitat facilitates establishment (Kaye 1991).

  • 09/03/2020
  • Orthodox Seed Banking

Seed from 6 locations banked at The Berry Botanic Garden.

Nature Serve Biotics
  • 05/02/2017

Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris is known from about 52 extant occurrences in California and Oregon. Its habitat is very restricted and very sensitive to physical disturbance. Drainage and filling of marshes, dumping, development, foot traffic, off-the-road vehicle use, flooding, non-native plant invasion, recreation, cattle grazing, and polluting are threats to this taxon. Many have been lost or degraded and a few remnant populations remain in Marin County, Humboldt County, California and in SW Oregon.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Draining and filling of marshes (Meinke 1982). Water Pollution (Meinke 1982) and oil spills (CNDD 2001). ORV use kills salt marsh vegetation including Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris and its host species. They also reduce vegetative cover, a h

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

In Oregon as of 1991: 18 sites (Kaye 1991). Colony size ranged from 30 individuals to 500,000. At each site, Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris was found in dense patches or as well dispersed individuals. These patterns may be due to the patchy availability of suitable habitat and seed dispersal by water. In California as of 2001: 50 sites ""presumed extant."" However, many sites have not been visited since the early 1980's, so their current status is unknown. Population numbers range from a few to as many as 300,000 (CNDD 2001).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Inventory conducted in 1990 of suitable habitat. A total of 16 colonies were surveyed, 13 of these sites were previously unknown. Colony sizes ranged from 30 to 500,000 plants, with an average of 2,000 (Kaye et al. 1991). Habitat and ecological requirements of the species were studied to assist in future restoration activities. Distribution suggests that the species occupies sites with relatively high salinity (25-30 ppt), and that the specific location in marine estuaries is at the upper edge of low sandy marsh. Light disturbance with some open habitat facilitates establishment (Kaye 1991). Genetic analysis (using RAPD markers) of white and purple flowered populations found in Coos Bay Oregon to determine genetic variation within and between 6 populations was conducted by Victoria Mathis, a student at Gold Beach High School, Oregon. Her poster was presented at Northwest Scientific Association 2001 Annual Meetings held at Humboldt University, Arcata, CA. Flower dissection revealed that of Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus (a related species from southern California) is capable of self-fertilization. The pollen to ovule ratio is in the range expected for self-pollinating species. (Kaye 1991) Seeds of Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus (found in Southern California) require six weeks of cold storage and fresh water for germination (Kaye 1991). Yearly monitoring at Coos Bay site from 1993 to 2001 (at least) (Brian 2001).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris is a Bureau of Land Management ""Bureau Sensitive"" species. No actions can be authorized, funded, or carried out by the BLM that will contribute to the need for the species to become listed (Brian 2001). An interagency conservation strategy was prepared in 1995 but not finalized for sites located in Coos Bay (Brian 2001). Barricades to redirect traffic and restrict ORV usage of the land have been erected at various sites (Brian 2001). Some sites in California fenced to exclude cattle grazing (CNDD 2001). Seed from 6 locations banked at The Berry Botanic Garden.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Study the effect of oil spills on Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris in Oregon, since several oil spills have adversely affected California populations (Kaye et al. 1991). Monitor known populations to detect population trends (Kaye et al. 1991). Limit ORV use at known sites (Kaye et al. 1991). Determine if Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris can re-colonize disturbed areas (Rittenhouse 1999). Distribute seeds to nearby areas of suitable habitat as seeds do not travel long distances on their own (Brian 2001). Reintroduce seeds to areas where the species has been extirpated or to other sites where habitat is suitable (Brian 2001).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Collect and store seeds from across the range. Determine optimal germination procedures. Determine propagation and reintroduction protocols.

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Nomenclature
Taxon Chloropyron maritimum ssp. palustre
Authority (Behr) Tank & J.M. Egger
Family Orobanchaceae
CPC Number 1055
ITIS 834233
USDA
Duration Annual
Common Names North Coast bird's-beak | Point Reyes bird's beak | salt marsh bird's-beak | Pt. Reyes bird's-beak
Associated Scientific Names Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. palustris | Chloropyron maritimum ssp. palustre | Cordylanthus maritimus
Distribution OR: Beaches southern Oregon (Tillamook, Lincoln, and Coos Counties) CA: Beaches of northern California
State Rank
State State Rank
California S2
Oregon S2
Ecological Relationships

Photos
Pollinators
Common Name Name in Text Association Type Source InteractionID
Other
Self Only Link

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