Stephanomeria malheurensis
Encyclopedia
The Malheur wirelettuce (Stephanomeria malheurensis) is a plant of the Asteraceae
family.
This plant species, designated as "endangered with critical habitat" by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) in 1982, is native to only one small region in Harney County, Oregon
, USA. A related species, Stephanomeria exigua
or Small wirelettuce, grows in the same region as Malheur wirelettuce. It is believed that the Malheur species is derived from S. exigua. The species is an annual and is susceptible to invasive species of plants such as Cheatgrass. During the 1980s, an invasion of the highly aggressive, non-native Cheatgrass led to dwindling numbers of S. malheurensis with some years recording no occurrences of the plant. According to the USFWS, beginning in 1987 an effort was made to re-introduce S. malheurensis with 1,000 specimens being transplanted from the Berry Botanic Garden
. Of these, only 412 survived and one wild plant was found. To this day, the numbers of wild S. malheurensis remain very low as the plant remains at risk from Cheatgrass.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
family.
This plant species, designated as "endangered with critical habitat" by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
(USFWS) in 1982, is native to only one small region in Harney County, Oregon
Harney County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Malheur National Forest *Malheur National Wildlife Refuge*Ochoco National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,609 people, 3,036 households, and 2,094 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile...
, USA. A related species, Stephanomeria exigua
Stephanomeria exigua
Stephanomeria exigua is a perennial or biennial plant native to the western United States. It is thought to be the parent species of Stephanomeria malheurensis , an endangered plant species found only in southern Oregon...
or Small wirelettuce, grows in the same region as Malheur wirelettuce. It is believed that the Malheur species is derived from S. exigua. The species is an annual and is susceptible to invasive species of plants such as Cheatgrass. During the 1980s, an invasion of the highly aggressive, non-native Cheatgrass led to dwindling numbers of S. malheurensis with some years recording no occurrences of the plant. According to the USFWS, beginning in 1987 an effort was made to re-introduce S. malheurensis with 1,000 specimens being transplanted from the Berry Botanic Garden
Berry Botanic Garden
Berry Botanic Garden is a botanical garden in southwest Portland, Oregon, in the United States. In addition to large collections of alpine plants, rhododendrons, primulas, lilies, it is known for its plant-conservation program and its large seed bank that protects rare or endangered plants of the...
. Of these, only 412 survived and one wild plant was found. To this day, the numbers of wild S. malheurensis remain very low as the plant remains at risk from Cheatgrass.