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Plant Profile

Algodones Dunes Sunflower (Helianthus niveus ssp. tephrodes)

The solitary, yellow-petalled flower head of Helianthus niveus ssp. tephrodes. Photo Credit: Lynda Pritchett-Kozak

Global Rank: T2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Asteraceae
State: AZ, CA, MX, SI
Nature Serve ID: 134857
Lifeform: Forb/herb, Subshrub
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/14/1986

Description:

This beautiful sunflower grows in Dune ecosystems of California. Plants are perennials form long tap roots and can grow up to one meter in height. The leaves are all opposite or nearly alternate, and spathulate, with white, or grayish sericeous hairs appressed on the surfaces. The flower heads are solitary, with the corollas from reddish purple to nearly yellow.

Where is Algodones Dunes Sunflower (Helianthus niveus ssp. tephrodes) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Plants are limited to the loose sand dunes of Baja, California, which extend north into southern Arizona and northern California. Associated species include Eriogonum deserticola, Palofoxia arida, Tiquilia plicata, Ephedra trifurca, Oenothera deltoides and Pholisma sonorae.

Distribution:

California

States & Provinces:

Algodones Dunes Sunflower can be found in Arizona, California, Mexico, Sonora

Which CPC Partners conserve Algodones Dunes Sunflower (Helianthus niveus ssp. tephrodes)?

Desert Botanical Garden

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

09/15/2020

Chromosome differences (Chandler 1986) and variation in sunflower species has been studied (Heiser 1954, 1955, 1957).

09/15/2020

Germination (Chandler and Jan 1985).

09/15/2020

Additional seed collections are needed.

09/15/2020

Additional seed collections are needed.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Helianthus niveus ssp. tephrodes occurs in Imperial County, California, southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. Threats include off road vehicle use.

Kathleen C. Rice

01/01/2010

Threats include off-road vehicle use, and development of dunes for agriculture, roads and housing.

Kathleen C. Rice

01/01/2010

There are four sites documented within U.S. boundaries.

Kathleen C. Rice

01/01/2010

Germination (Chandler and Jan 1985), chromosome differences (Chandler 1986) and variation in sunflower species has been studied (Heiser 1954, 1955, 1957).

Kathleen C. Rice

01/01/2010

Populations are monitored at Algodones Dunes in California (Bureau of Land Management 2000).

Kathleen C. Rice

01/01/2010

Management needs include focusing on enforcing laws regarding illegal off-road vehicular use and initiate planning strategies that allow for plant conservation. Research needs include understanding abiotic/biotic influences on population dynamics.

Kathleen C. Rice

01/01/2010

Additional seed collections are needed.