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Plant Profile

Penland's Alpine Fen Mustard (Eutrema penlandii)

Photo Caption Photo Credit: Alex Seglias

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Threatened
Family: Brassicaceae
State: CO
Nature Serve ID: 137410
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/05/1993

Description:

Eutrema penlandii is a small herbaceous perennial usually found on south- and east-facing flat to gently sloping benches with steep walls that provide some protection from snow-melting winds (Smith 1993). This species is an ice age relict; its closest relative is the arctic species, E. edwardsii, which is found 2000 km to the north in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. (Roy et al. 1993)

Where is Penland's Alpine Fen Mustard (Eutrema penlandii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Alpine tundra, moss-covered peat fens with perennial subirrigation due to snowmelt and calcareous substrate derived from limestone or dolomite. Elev. 12,300-13,100 ft. (Spackman 1997)

Distribution:

Endemic to the Mosquito Range in central Colorado (Park and Summit Cos.) (Spackman 1997)

States & Provinces:

Penland's Alpine Fen Mustard can be found in Colorado

Which CPC Partners conserve Penland's Alpine Fen Mustard (Eutrema penlandii)?

Denver Botanic Gardens

Conservation Actions

Alexandra Seglias

09/22/2022

As part of the IMLS seed longevity project, Eutrema penlandii was targeted for seed collection in 2022. The original accession was collected in 1988 from Hoosier Pass in Colorado. The population was scouted in 2021, but by the time we found it the seeds had already dispersed. That same population was scouted in July 2022 as flowers were senescing and fruits were starting to form. Fruits were collected on a second trip in August 2022. 200 seeds from 49 plants were sent to NLGRP for longevity testing.

Center for Plant Conservation

08/18/2021

In 2021, CPC contracted Denver Botanic Gardens 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.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Endemic to a 40 km stretch of the Continental Divide in Colorado where the Divide trends east-west, rather than north-south, and where a unique set of habitat conditions exist, including perennially wet, primarily calcareous soils at very high elevations. The occurrences are in close proximity to mines and are threatened by mineral extraction activities, especially ditching, which could alter the hydrology of the area, and drainage from mine tailings, which could acidify the sites. Recreational use is also a threat, especially from ORVs and hikers. This taxon represents one of only two species of Eutrema in North America, and the only Eutrema in the lower 48 states. This species is disjunct by 1000 miles to its nearest relative Eutrema edwardii, an arctic circumpolar species.

Carol Dawson

01/01/2010

Threats include off-road vehicles, mining activities, groundwater acidification, ditch construction (Smith 1993, USFWS 1993).

Carol Dawson

01/01/2010

8 small occurrences totaling 5,200 plants along the Continental Divide in central CO. (Smith 1993)

Carol Dawson

01/01/2010

Soil moisture/pH requirements, seed germination (Kelso et al. 1991, 1992).

Carol Dawson

01/01/2010

There is no formal management plan.

Carol Dawson

01/01/2010

Population monitoring and understanding the general reproductive biology and ecology of this species.

Carol Dawson

01/01/2010

Seed collection needed for long-term seed storage.