Cordylanthus palmatus
Encyclopedia
Cordylanthus palmatus is a rare species of flowering plant in the broomrape family
known by the common names palmate bird's beak and palmbract bird's beak. It is endemic to the Central Valley of California
, where it is known from a few remaining occurrences in the rare alkali sink habitat type. The plant is limited to seasonally-flooded flats with saline and alkaline soils, where it grows with other halophyte
s such as iodine bush and alkali heath
. It is a federally listed endangered species
. The main threat to its existence is the destruction of its already naturally limited habitat for agriculture
and development, with other adverse effects from alteration in hydrology
, off-road vehicle
s, and grazing of livestock. The plant is currently known from 21 locations in seven metapopulation
s.
This is an annual herb growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall. It is gray-green in color, glandular, and coated with hairs. It is often encrusted with salt crystals it has excreted. The sparse leaves are oblong and sometimes have lobes along the edges. The inflorescence
is a dense columnar spike of flowers up to 15 centimeters long. The bract
s surrounding the flowers are leaflike and palmate in shape, with several lobes. Each flower is up to 2 centimeters long and has a fuzzy white pouch, sometimes tinted purple, enclosed in darker sepal
s.
Orobanchaceae
Orobanchaceae, the broomrape family, is a family of flowering plants of the order Lamiales, with about 90 genera and more than 2000 species. Many of these genera were formerly included in the family Scrophulariaceae sensu lato...
known by the common names palmate bird's beak and palmbract bird's beak. It is endemic to the Central Valley of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it is known from a few remaining occurrences in the rare alkali sink habitat type. The plant is limited to seasonally-flooded flats with saline and alkaline soils, where it grows with other halophyte
Halophyte
A halophyte is a plant that grows where it is affected by salinity in the root area or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs, and seashores. An example of a halophyte is the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora . Relatively few plant species are...
s such as iodine bush and alkali heath
Frankenia salina
The perennial herb Frankenia salina, often called alkali heath or alkali seaheath, is native to California. It is occasionally found in Nevada and Mexico, but its range is limited...
. It is a federally listed endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
. The main threat to its existence is the destruction of its already naturally limited habitat for agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and development, with other adverse effects from alteration in hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
, off-road vehicle
Off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads, a flexible suspension, or even caterpillar tracks...
s, and grazing of livestock. The plant is currently known from 21 locations in seven metapopulation
Metapopulation
A metapopulation consists of a group of spatially separated populations of the same species which interact at some level. The term metapopulation was coined by Richard Levins in 1970 to describe a model of population dynamics of insect pests in agricultural fields, but the idea has been most...
s.
This is an annual herb growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall. It is gray-green in color, glandular, and coated with hairs. It is often encrusted with salt crystals it has excreted. The sparse leaves are oblong and sometimes have lobes along the edges. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a dense columnar spike of flowers up to 15 centimeters long. The bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s surrounding the flowers are leaflike and palmate in shape, with several lobes. Each flower is up to 2 centimeters long and has a fuzzy white pouch, sometimes tinted purple, enclosed in darker sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s.
External links
Further reading
- Coats, R., et al. (1993). Management plan for an alkali sink and its endangered plant Cordylanthus palmatus. Environmental Management 17:1 115-27.
- Fleishman, E., et al. (2001). Rules and exceptions in conservation genetics: Genetic assessment of the endangered plant Cordylanthus palmatus and its implications for management planning. Biological Conservation 98:1 45-53.