Kalmiopsis fragrans
Encyclopedia
Kalmiopsis fragrans is a rare species of flowering plant in the heath family
known by the common name North Umpqua kalmiopsis. It is endemic to Oregon
in the United States, where there are just a few known populations, all within Douglas County
.
This plant has been known since the 1950s but it was generally treated as a form of Kalmiopsis leachiana
. In 2007 it was separated and described as a new species. It differs slightly from K. leachiana in the size and shape of the flower.
This plant is a shrub
which grows 1 to 3 m (3.3 to 9.8 ft) tall. The aromatic, glandular green leaves are oval or oblong in shape and variable in size, up to about 4.5 centimetres (1.8 in) at the largest. The inflorescence
bears 2 to 12 showy pink flowers each 1.6 to 3.2 cm (0.62992125984252 to 1.3 in) in diameter. The protruding stamen
s are tipped with purple anthers and have tufts of yellow hairs around the bases. The plant is distylous
, some individuals having long stamens and a short pistil
, and some having short stamens and a long pistil.
This Kalmiopsis is limited to a small strip of territory along the North and South Umpqua River
in the Cascade Range
of southwestern Oregon. It grows in rocky habitat, such as scree
slopes and piles of boulders, and can take hold in areas with very little soil. The rock type frequently associated with the shrub is tuff
. Other plants in the area include several types of conifers as well as Oregon-grape (Mahonia nervosa), ocean spray
(Holodiscus discolor), salal (Gaultheria shallon), redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana), western sword fern
(Polystichum munitum), twinflower (Linnaea borealis), wood rose
(Rosa gymnocarpa), pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea), fringed pinesap
(Pleuricospora fimbriolata), sugar stick (Allotropa virgata), Pacific rhododendron
(Rhododendron macrophyllum), vine maple (Acer circinatum), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), western rattlesnake plantain
(Goodyera oblongifolia), false lupine
(Thermopsis montana), yellowleaf iris
(Iris chrysophylla), white-veined wintergreen
(Pyrola picta), northern sanicle
(Sanicula graveolens), calypso orchid (Calypso bulbosa), cream fawnlily
(Erythronium citrinum), and field woodrush (Luzula campestris).
The total population of this plant is estimated to be no more than 2500 individuals. Threats to the rare plant include logging
and road construction, but because the plant grows in steep, inaccessible habitat, often in protected areas, some populations may not be affected. Herbivory by animals such as deer may be a threat. The plant may not reproduce efficiently, as evidenced by the apparent lack of seedling
s, but it probably spreads via vegetative reproduction
.
Ericaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
known by the common name North Umpqua kalmiopsis. It is endemic to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in the United States, where there are just a few known populations, all within Douglas County
Douglas County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Crater Lake National Park * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Siuslaw National Forest * Umpqua National Forest * Willamette National Forest -Adjacent counties:* Lane County, Oregon -...
.
This plant has been known since the 1950s but it was generally treated as a form of Kalmiopsis leachiana
Kalmiopsis leachiana
Kalmiopsis is a rare flowering plant endemic to the Siskiyou Mountains of southwest Oregon, where it is specially protected in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness reserve. It was discovered in 1930 by Lilla Leach in the Gold Basin area. It is related to Kalmia in the family Ericaceae...
. In 2007 it was separated and described as a new species. It differs slightly from K. leachiana in the size and shape of the flower.
This plant is a shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
which grows 1 to 3 m (3.3 to 9.8 ft) tall. The aromatic, glandular green leaves are oval or oblong in shape and variable in size, up to about 4.5 centimetres (1.8 in) at the largest. 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...
bears 2 to 12 showy pink flowers each 1.6 to 3.2 cm (0.62992125984252 to 1.3 in) in diameter. The protruding stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s are tipped with purple anthers and have tufts of yellow hairs around the bases. The plant is distylous
Heterostyly
Heterostyly is a unique form of polymorphism and herkogamy in flowers. In a heterostylous species, two or three different morphological types of flowers, termed morphs, exist in the population. On each individual plant, all flowers share the same morph. The flower morphs differ in the lengths of...
, some individuals having long stamens and a short pistil
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
, and some having short stamens and a long pistil.
This Kalmiopsis is limited to a small strip of territory along the North and South Umpqua River
Umpqua River
The Umpqua River on the Pacific coast of Oregon in the United States is approximately long. One of the principal rivers of the Oregon Coast and known for bass and shad, the river drains an expansive network of valleys in the mountains west of the Cascade Range and south of the Willamette Valley,...
in the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
of southwestern Oregon. It grows in rocky habitat, such as scree
Scree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
slopes and piles of boulders, and can take hold in areas with very little soil. The rock type frequently associated with the shrub is tuff
Tuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
. Other plants in the area include several types of conifers as well as Oregon-grape (Mahonia nervosa), ocean spray
Holodiscus discolor
Holodiscus discolor, commonly known as ocean spray, creambush or ironwood, is a shrub of western North America. It is common in the Pacific Northwest where it is found in both openings and the forest understory at low to moderate elevations.-Description:Holodiscus discolor is a fast-growing...
(Holodiscus discolor), salal (Gaultheria shallon), redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana), western sword fern
Polystichum munitum
Polystichum munitum is an evergreen fern native to western North America, where it is one of the most abundant ferns occurring along the Pacific coast from southeast Alaska south to southern California, and also inland east to southeastern British Columbia, northern Idaho and western Montana, with...
(Polystichum munitum), twinflower (Linnaea borealis), wood rose
Rosa gymnocarpa
Rosa gymnocarpa is a species of rose native to western North America. It is known by the common names wood rose, baldhip rose, and dwarf rose. It grows in shady, damp, and rich forests.-Description:...
(Rosa gymnocarpa), pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea), fringed pinesap
Pleuricospora
Pleuricospora is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the heath family containing the single species Pleuricospora fimbriolata, which is known by the common name fringed pinesap. It is native to the forests of the west coast of North America from British Columbia to the San Francisco Bay Area...
(Pleuricospora fimbriolata), sugar stick (Allotropa virgata), Pacific rhododendron
Rhododendron macrophyllum
Rhododendron macrophyllum, the Pacific Rhododendron, Coast Rhododendron or Big Leaf Rhododendron, is a broadleaf evergreen rhododendron species native to western North America.-Distribution:...
(Rhododendron macrophyllum), vine maple (Acer circinatum), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), western rattlesnake plantain
Goodyera oblongifolia
Goodyera oblongifolia is a species of orchid known by the common names western rattlesnake plantain and giant rattlesnake plantain. It is native to much of North America, particularly the western side of the continent from Alaska to Mexico, and to eastern Canada. It is most commonly found in...
(Goodyera oblongifolia), false lupine
Thermopsis montana
Thermopsis montana is a plant species which is native of the western United States.-External links:**...
(Thermopsis montana), yellowleaf iris
Iris chrysophylla
The Yellowleaf iris, Iris chrysophylla, is a wildflower which ranges from midwestern and southern Oregon west of the Cascades and south to the crest of the Siskiyou Mountains in northern California. The Yellowleaf iris grows up to elevation, most commonly in open, coniferous...
(Iris chrysophylla), white-veined wintergreen
Pyrola picta
Pyrola picta, commonly called white-veined wintergreen or whitevein shinleaf, is a perennial herb in the heath family. It is native to western North America from southwestern Canada to the southwestern United States.-External links:****...
(Pyrola picta), northern sanicle
Sanicula graveolens
Sanicula graveolens is a species of flowering plant in the parsley family known by the common names northern sanicle and Sierra blacksnakeroot. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Montana to California, and southern South America, including southern Chile. Its habitat...
(Sanicula graveolens), calypso orchid (Calypso bulbosa), cream fawnlily
Erythronium citrinum
Erythronium citrinum, also known as citrus fawn lily or cream fawn lily, is a member of the lily family that is found in southwest Oregon and adjacent northwest California...
(Erythronium citrinum), and field woodrush (Luzula campestris).
The total population of this plant is estimated to be no more than 2500 individuals. Threats to the rare plant include logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
and road construction, but because the plant grows in steep, inaccessible habitat, often in protected areas, some populations may not be affected. Herbivory by animals such as deer may be a threat. The plant may not reproduce efficiently, as evidenced by the apparent lack of seedling
Seedling
thumb|Monocot and dicot seedlingsA seedling is a young plant sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a seed. Seedling development starts with germination of the seed. A typical young seedling consists of three main parts: the radicle , the hypocotyl , and the cotyledons...
s, but it probably spreads via vegetative reproduction
Vegetative reproduction
Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants. It is a process by which new individuals arise without production of seeds or spores...
.
External links
- Kalmiopsis fragrans. CalPhotos Photo Gallery.