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County Record Plants and Rare Plants

Rarity:

Plants are considered rare when their population has dwindled, or they are restricted to a narrow geographic location. The 6 plants that I have indicated as rare are listed in the Colorado Natural Heritage Program website (cnhp.colostate.edu). There are levels of rarity globally and statewide. The rare plants I listed are either critically imperiled or imperiled at the state level.  To see the names, just put your cursor on the picture.

alilciella haydenii DF road.jpg

Scientific Name: Aliciella haydenii
Common: Hayden's Gilia

astragalus missouriensis FCK.jpg

Scientific Name: Astragalus
missouriensis var. humistratus
Common: Missouri Milkvetch

astragalus proximus Ksk.jpg

Scientific Name: Astragalus proximus
Common: Aztec Milkvetch

astragalus iodopetalus tb.jpg

Scientific Name: Astragalus iodopetalus
Common: Violet Milkvetch

eriogonum leptophyllum KOV (1).jpg

Scientific Name: Eriogonum leptophyllum
Common: Slender-leaf Buckwheat

grindelia arizonica.jpg



Scientific Name:Grindelia arizonica
Common: Arizona Gumweed

Scientific Name: Grindelia arizonica
Common: Arizona Gumweed 

County Records:

     All plant records in the United States are kept by county level.  When a plant is discovered in a county where it has not been previously known, it is called a county record.  Kartesz's website is a central location where one can go to see the occurrence and nativity status of a plant.  It shows a map of North America that indicates in which county each plant may be found.  He obtains this information from many different sources, especially from herbaria throughout the country.

     Herbaria store plant specimens collected by professionals, students, and lay-persons.  The specimens are kept in cabinets arranged by species and can be accessed for research just by asking the curator.  Many herbaria also make collection data and digital images of specimens available online.  Here in the southwestern U.S., the Southwestern Environmental Information Network (SEINet Portal Network at swbiodiversity.org) serves as the best source for online herbaria data.  

     Here in Durango, we are fortunate to have access to the largest herbarium in western Colorado.  The Fort Lewis College herbarium houses over 20,000 specimens.  By using this collection, I was able to verify the identities of many of the plants I am studying and determine if they had been found by others within the county.

     You and I are also sources from which Kartesz receives information on the location of plants. With each of my plants, I referred to Kartesz’s website to see if it had been recorded as present in La Plata County.  When it was not present, I checked SEInet then emailed Kartesz a picture and my identification of the plant.  If he accepted it as a new recording for our county, I indicated it as a county record.  With some of my county records, I have been able to donate a specimen to the Fort Lewis College herbarium so others can see their occurrence.  

     Together we can be agents of change. According to Kartesz, "Tracking new county records is essential for establishing the rate-of-spread of certain introduced or exotic species.  Moreover, knowing where plants exist is useful when plotting ranges of these species.  Knowing where existing populations of noxious plants occur helps spray teams and others focus their efforts in controlling or eradicating these plants.  Knowledge of new county records is also invaluable for understanding plant rarity.  New county locations of rare plants help ensure continued protection for these species and their habitats."  

     I hope this book encourages your awareness so that you too can discover more plants waiting to be found!

ambosia psilostachya flc.jpg

Scientific Name : Ambrosia psilostachya 
Common: Western Ragweed

solidago nana brK (1).jpg

Scientific Name : Solidago nana
Common: Baby Goldenrod

crepis tectorum nrt.jpg

Scientific Name : Crepis tectorum
Common: Narrow-leaf Hawksbeard

physaria floribunda plant Kov.jpg

Scientific Name : Physaria floribunda 
Common: Point-tip Twinpod

sisymbrium loeselii RT.jpg

Scientific Name : Sisymbrium loeselii
Common: Small Tumbleweed Mustard

polanisia dodecandra gv.jpg

Scientific Name : Polanisia dodecandra
Common: Red Whisker Clammyweed

thelypodium wrightii OV.jpg

Scientific Name : Thelypodium wrightii
Common: Wright's Thelypody

california poppy Knrt (1).jpg

Scientific Name : Eschscholzia californica
Common: California Poppy

penstemon eatonii Kflc (1).jpg

Scientific Name : Penstemon eatonii
Common: Eaton's Penstemon

ulmus americana srtK.jpg

Scientific Name : Ulmus americana
Common: American Elm

astragalus missouriensis df.Kjpg.jpg

Scientific Name : Astragalus missouriensis
Common: Missouri Milkvetch

cleomella lutea ln.jpg

Scientific Name : Cleomella lutea
Common: Yellow Bee Plant

coreopsis tinctoria oxK.jpg

Scientific Name : Coreopsis tinctoria
Common: Plains Coreopsis

potentilla recta df.jpg

Scientific Name : Potentilla recta
Common: Sulphur Cinquefoil

rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima ox (1).jpg

Scientific Name : Rudbeckia hirta var.
pulcherrima
Common: Black-eyed Susan

prunus armeniaca SRTK (1).jpg

Scientific Name : Prunus armeniaca
Common: Apricot

solanum physalifolium flcK.jpg

Scientific Name : Solanum physalifolium
Common: Hairy Nightshade

blitum virgata Knrt.jpg

Scientific Name : Blitum virgatum
Common: Strawberry Goosefoot

lonicera tattarica NRT2.jpg

Scientific Name : Lonicera tattarica 
Common: Tatarian Honeysuckle

symphyotrichum spathulatum Kdp.jpg

Scientific Name : Symphyotrichum
spathulatum

Common: Spatula Aster

epipactis helleborine nrtK.jpg

Scientific Name : Epipactis helleborine
Common: Broad-leaf Helliborine

mentzelia multiflora OVK.jpg

Scientific Name : Mentzelia multiflora
Common: Adonis Blazing Star

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