Search / Plant Profile / Physaria parviflora

Plant Profile

Piceance Bladderpod (Physaria parviflora)

View of this low growing perennial. Note the erect to decumbent stems and the one sided yellow flowering racemes. Photo Credit: Carol Dawson

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Brassicaceae
State: CO
Nature Serve ID: 160720
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987

Description:

In June and early July, Piceance Bladderpod produces golden-yellowish flowers off of decumbent stems from low growing rosettes. This bladderpod is covered with star-shaped hairs which gives it a silvery appearance. It is these specialized leaf hairs that separate this species from other closely related species. Plants can be found on a nearly barren slope of weathering oil shale. (Colorado Native Plant Society 1997)

Where is Piceance Bladderpod (Physaria parviflora) located in the wild?

Habitat:

This species is found on shale outcrops of the Green River Formation, on ledges and slopes of canyons in open areas. Elev. 6200-8600 ft. (Von Bargen 1997)Piceance Bladderpod is frequently found with Pinus edulis, Juniperus osteosperma, Eriogonum sp., Cirsium sp., Astragalus lutosus, Cercocarpus sp., Galium coloradense, Oryzopsis hymenoides, Penstemon sp., and Machaeranthera sp. (NatureServe 2001).

Distribution:

This species is endemic to the shale barrens of northwestern Colorado. Piceance Basin in Garfield, Mesa and Rio Blanco Cos. (Von Bargen 1997).

States & Provinces:

Piceance Bladderpod can be found in Colorado

Which CPC Partners conserve Piceance Bladderpod (Physaria parviflora)?

Denver Botanic Gardens

Not Sponsored

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

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Endemic to the shale barrens of northwestern Colorado. While there are 27 occurrences, many are of poor-fair viability or historical. Very few occurrences appear to be specifically protected and the potential for oil shale and natural gas development poses a significant threat.

Michelle DePrenger-Levin

01/01/2010

Threats include off-road vehicle disturbance, grazing disturbances, and urban development (Anderson 1988).

Michelle DePrenger-Levin

01/01/2010

There are 31 populations in the shale barrens of northwestern Colorado. (NatureServe 2001).

Michelle DePrenger-Levin

01/01/2010

There is no formal management plan.

Michelle DePrenger-Levin

01/01/2010

Research into all aspects of this species life history and ecology would be useful.

Michelle DePrenger-Levin

01/01/2010

Seed collection and storage.