Rough Popcorn-flower / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Rough Popcorn-flower (Plagiobothrys hirtus var. hirtus)

Closeup view of the white flowers and hairly stems of this species. Photo Credit: Oregon Natural Heritage Data Base
  • Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Boraginaceae
  • State: OR
  • Nature Serve ID: 145284
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987
Description:

The native wetlands occupied by this species offer a unique combination of intertwining aquatic and terrestrial life. Many native annual plants, including skullcap speedwell (Veronica scutellata), Willamette downingia (Downingia yina), and Douglas' meadow-foam (Limnanthes douglasii), as well as a wide variety of aquatic invertebrates depend on the seasonal wetlands for their success and survival. Rough popcornflower is an obligate wetland plant and requires vernal pools to complete its lifecycle. It must remain submerged in standing water from late fall to early spring. The destruction of wetlands in Douglas County, Oregon that results from housing and road construction as well as grazing will lead to extinction of rough popcorn flower if preventative measures are not taken. Both habitat protection and reintroductions of this species are potential mechanisms for the conservation of this species. This species is a good candidate for reintroduction as it germinates readily and can be cultivated in a greenhouse setting.

Where is Rough Popcorn-flower (Plagiobothrys hirtus var. hirtus) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Plagiobothrys hirtus ssp. hirtus is found only in seasonal wetlands that are inundated by water from late fall to early spring (vernal pools) at lower elevations (approximately 300 to 500 ft or 100 to 150 m).

Distribution:

OR: Klamath Mountains region, Umpqua River Drainage, in an area approximately 25-30 miles long in Douglas County, Oregon.

States & Provinces:

Rough Popcorn-flower can be found in Oregon

Which CPC Partners conserve Rough Popcorn-flower (Plagiobothrys hirtus var. hirtus)?

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

Tina Stanley
  • 08/22/2022

Plagiobothyrs hirtus habitat has been largely converted to developed privatized land since the original accession that was collect in 7/2/1987. In areas where there were notable populations, the populations were primarily small, therefore limiting the overall collection amount. The largest population noted during seed scouting was on private property which limited seed collection for the species in 2021. Seed cleaning and processing was simple to execute, with
little to no insect damage to the collected seeds.

Institute for Applied Ecology staff used this helpful resource compiled by the Oregon Flora Project (plahir2) to distinguish this species from other similar Plagiobothrys species during seed collection

Tina Stanley
  • 08/22/2022
  • Orthodox Seed Banking

In 2021, CPC contracted 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.

  • 10/08/2020
  • Seed Collection

Germination trials were conducted at the Berry Botanic Garden. Seeds were first subjected to either 8 weeks of cold stratification or no cold stratification. Seeds were then placed in either constant 68F (20C) or alternating 50/68F (10/20C). 67% of seeds that were cold stratified and then placed in constant temperatures geminated while only 27% of seeds that were cold stratified and then placed in alternating temperatures germinated. When seeds were not cold stratified, 0% of seeds germinated under constant temperatures while 67% germinated under alternating temperatures (BBG File)

  • 10/08/2020
  • Reintroduction

Experimental reintroduction at two sites on the North Bank Habitat Management Area (a BLM Area of Critical Environmental Concern).

  • 10/08/2020
  • Genetic Research

Observations and preliminary genetic research suggest that there are three genetically distinct groupings of populations (USFWS 2001).

  • 10/08/2020
  • Reintroduction

A graduate student at Oregon State University evaluated the life history and ecology of Plagiobothrys hirtus ssp. hirtus through greenhouse and field studies. She used greenhouse transplants to augment two native populations. She discovered that P. hirtus is a facultative perennial, not strictly an annual as previously thought (Amsberry, pers. comm. 2001).

  • 10/08/2020
  • Reproductive Research

Researchers at the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Oregon State University (OSU) have completed projects on genetic variation, reproductive biology, and life history traits (USFWS 2001). A graduate student at Oregon State University evaluated the life history and ecology of Plagiobothrys hirtus ssp. hirtus through greenhouse and field studies. She used greenhouse transplants to augment two native populations. She discovered that P. hirtus is a facultative perennial, not strictly an annual as previously thought (Amsberry, pers. comm. 2001).

  • 10/08/2020
  • Genetic Research

Researchers at the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Oregon State University (OSU) have completed projects on genetic variation, reproductive biology, and life history traits (USFWS 2001). A graduate student at Oregon State University evaluated the life history and ecology of Plagiobothrys hirtus ssp. hirtus through greenhouse and field studies. She used greenhouse transplants to augment two native populations. She discovered that P. hirtus is a facultative perennial, not strictly an annual as previously thought (Amsberry, pers. comm. 2001).

  • 10/08/2020
  • Propagation Research

Germination trials were conducted at the Berry Botanic Garden. Seeds were first subjected to either 8 weeks of cold stratification or no cold stratification. Seeds were then placed in either constant 68F (20C) or alternating 50/68F (10/20C). 67% of seeds that were cold stratified and then placed in constant temperatures geminated while only 27% of seeds that were cold stratified and then placed in alternating temperatures germinated. When seeds were not cold stratified, 0% of seeds germinated under constant temperatures while 67% germinated under alternating temperatures (BBG File).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Destruction of wetlands due to drainage for agricultural uses. Pools adjacent to altered land may also be effected due to the changes in hydrology (USFWS 2001). Wetland destruction due to urban development (USFWS 2001). Heavy spring and summer grazi

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

17 known occurrences. 15 are naturally occurring, 2 are reintroduced. Of the naturally occurring populations, only 5 are legally protected. Two are on Oregon Department of Transportation land and 3 are on private land managed by The Nature Conservancy. The remaining populations are on private commercial, residential and agricultural land. There is an estimated 7,000 individuals, with patch sizes ranging from 1 to 3,000 individuals. However, since Plagiobothrys hirtus ssp. hirtus can spread vegetatively, it is difficult to estimate the total number of genetic individuals. Total occupied habitat is only about 45 acres (USFWS 2000).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Little research done prior to 1995 (USFWS 2001). Observations and preliminary genetic research suggest that there are three genetically distinct groupings of populations (USFWS 2001). Researchers at the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Oregon State University (OSU) have completed projects on genetic variation, reproductive biology, and life history traits (USFWS 2001). A graduate student at Oregon State University evaluated the life history and ecology of Plagiobothrys hirtus ssp. hirtus through greenhouse and field studies. She used greenhouse transplants to augment two native populations. She discovered that P. hirtus is a facultative perennial, not strictly an annual as previously thought (Amsberry, pers. comm. 2001). Germination trials were conducted at the Berry Botanic Garden. Seeds were first subjected to either 8 weeks of cold stratification or no cold stratification. Seeds were then placed in either constant 68F (20C) or alternating 50/68F (10/20C). 67% of seeds that were cold stratified and then placed in constant temperatures geminated while only 27% of seeds that were cold stratified and then placed in alternating temperatures germinated. When seeds were not cold stratified, 0% of seeds germinated under constant temperatures while 67% germinated under alternating temperatures (BBG File).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state of Oregon, however, neither listing protect plants found on private land. Plagiobothrys hirtus ssp. hirtus is marginally protected by the Clean Water Act as it occurs in wetlands. The law requires permits for any action that would fill, dredge, or otherwise damage wetlands. However, farm use exemptions and the fact that permits are usually issued readily, means that many wetlands get destroyed despite the law (USFWS 2001). Experimental reintroduction at two sites on the North Bank Habitat Management Area (a BLM Area of Critical Environmental Concern). Five patches are currently protected. Two are on Oregon Department of Transportation right-of-ways, three are on land managed by The Nature Conservancy. Inventories for new populations were conducted in the 1980's by James Kagan (ONHDB 2000) and ODA in 1998. A recovery plan was drafted in 2001. The goal of the plant is to meet specific conditions in order to downlist the plant by 2011 (USFWS 2001).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Determine the effect of fire on Plagiobothrys hirtus ssp. hirtus. Study the interaction of P. hirtus ssp. hirtus and other organisms, such as herbivores, in the ecosystem. Study the effect of different grazing regimes (time, intensity, grazer, etc) on the success of P. hirtus ssp. hirtus (USFWS 2001).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Collect and store a genetically representative sample of seeds from across the range.

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Nomenclature
Taxon Plagiobothrys hirtus var. hirtus
Authority (Greene) Johnst.
Family Boraginaceae
CPC Number 3501
ITIS 504433
USDA PLHI6
Duration Annual
Common Names popcorn flower | rough popcorn flower | rough popcornflower
Associated Scientific Names Plagiobothrys hirtus var. hirtus | Plagiobothrys hirtus | Allocarya hirta | Allocarya calycosa | Allocarya scouleri var. hirta | Plagiobothrys scouleri var. hirtus
Distribution OR: Klamath Mountains region, Umpqua River Drainage, in an area approximately 25-30 miles long in Douglas County, Oregon.
State Rank
State State Rank
Oregon S1
Ecological Relationships

Photos

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