Search / Plant Profile / Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense

Plant Profile

Pitkin Marsh Lily (Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense)

The beautiful and showy flowers of Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense. Photo Credit: Holly Forbes

Global Rank: T1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Liliaceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 143949
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 04/01/1990

Description:

Only three populations of this beautiful lily have ever been discovered. The Fish and Wildlife Service listed the lily as Endangered in 1997, however it is afforded no legal protection as all three populations are on privately owned land. Listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides no legal protection to plants on private land. The owners of one property have denied researchers access to the population there since 1975. It is presumed that the plants still exist there, but there is no way of determining the number of individuals remaining. The second known site was nearly destroyed by development in 1960s, but approximately 200 plants remain. A major subdivision is planned in the surrounding area, but a "conservation easement" agreement between the California Department of Fish and Game and the landowner will help to preserve this population. At the third known site, where this had once been a common species, only two plants remain. This loss was due in part to wetland filling, but was primarily because of the removal of plants and bulbs for horticultural use. Owners of the latter two sites entered into voluntary protection agreements with The Nature Conservancy in 1989. The Sonoma County Department of Planning has designated both marshes as "critical habitat." This designation requires that any construction must be separated from the wetland boundaries by a minimum of 50 ft (15 m). Unfortunately, the requirement for a 50-ft setback can be waived if the setback would make the land unsuitable for construction.

Where is Pitkin Marsh Lily (Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Grows only in permanently saturated sandy soils in freshwater marshes and wet meadows at an elevation of approximately 115-200 ft (35-60 m).

Distribution:

CA: Southern end of the north Coast Range (Sonoma Co.)

States & Provinces:

Pitkin Marsh Lily can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Pitkin Marsh Lily (Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense)?

Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank & Plant Conservation Program

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

California Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

University of California Botanical Garden

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 12/13/22

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

Holly Forbes

12/09/2022

The University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley holds 1 accession of Lilium pardalinum subsp. pitkinense in orthodox seed collection. These 468 seeds from 17 maternal lines were collected in 2019.

09/18/2020

A comparison of the pollination ecology and floral evolution of several lilies from the Pacific Coast, including Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense and Lilium occidentale (Skinner, 1988).

09/01/2020

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Botanic Garden holds 1 accessions of Lilium pardalinum subsp. pitkinense in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 527 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

09/01/2020

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank & Plant Conservation Program holds 1 accessions of Lilium pardalinum subsp. pitkinense in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 128 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

08/05/2020

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank & Plant Conservation Program has collected 1 seed accessions of Lilium pardalinum subsp. pitkinense from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 25 maternal plants

08/05/2020

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Native Plant Society has collected 1 seed accessions of Lilium pardalinum subsp. pitkinense from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 35 maternal plants

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Known from only 3 populations in Sonoma County, California (at 35-120 meters elevation), which are presumed extant, but botanists have been denied access to one site for the past 20 years. The other 2 sites have a total of 200 plants. The subspecies was once locally abundant; the populations have been reduced by loss of habitat to urbanization and by collection for horticulture (it is now cultivated). The subspecies also continues to be threatened by grazing and competition from non-native species.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Collection of plants, seeds, and bulbs for Horticultural purposes (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995). Habitat loss due to urbanization (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995). Competition from invasive species, including blackberries (U.S. Fish an

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

As of 1995: 3 Populations. One population with unknown numbers of plants (the property owners have denied access to search for the plant). One population with approximately 200 plants. One population with approximately 2 plants (in 1996) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995; California Natural Diversity Data Base).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

A comparison of the pollination ecology and floral evolution of several lilies from the Pacific Coast, including Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense and Lilium occidentale (Skinner, 1988).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Seeds from largest population collected and stored at The Berry Botanic Garden. A recovery plan is being developed. The Nature Conservancy and the California Conservation Corps have built and maintained cattle exclosures at two sites (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995). Listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1997 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1997).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Restrict access to discourage collection of plant material. Place sturdy fencing around all emerged plants to decrease loss due to grazing. Study genetic diversity within and between known populations. Reintroduce plants in suitable habitat.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Determine germination protocols. Determine propagation and reintroduction protocols.