3.2.7.3.1 Sensitive Plants Known to Occur in the Planning Area
Antennaria densifolia
Antennaria densifolia was first identified in Alaska in the Keele Range near the Alaska-Yukon Territory border during a BLM sponsored inventory
in 1991 (Lipkin and Tande 1992). The plant was collected in both 1991 and 2007 at different localities in the Keele Range
where it was found to be scattered, but frequent. The only other known Alaskan collections are two locations in the Ogilvie
Mountains within Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve.
Douglasia arctica Hook.
Douglasia arctica has an East Beringian distribution restricted to east central Alaska and northern Yukon Territory, Canada. The species is
known from the Yukon-Tanana Uplands near Eagle Summit, and from Mount Schwatka, Victoria Mountain and VABM Fossil in the White
Mountains NRA (Parker et al. 2003). It is found in the Ogilvie Mountains, along the central Yukon and Porcupine river valleys.
The species was also found growing on a rocky, dry aspen-white spruce woodland slope in the Little Black River headwaters
in a 2008 BLM-sponsored survey.
Erysimum asperum (Nutt.) DC. var. angustatum (Rydb.) Boivin
An East Beringian endemic, Erysimum asperum var. angustatum is narrowly restricted to east central Alaska and southern Yukon Territory, Canada. Erysimum asperum var. angustatum was first collected and described under the name E. angustatum from Dawson, Yukon Territory (Rydberg 1901). Since then the species has been documented from additional Dawson area sites,
from Burwash Creek in southwestern Yukon Territory, and in Alaska from several sites along the central Yukon River valley
and the lower portions of its major tributaries in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. The collection sites of two specimens
at the University of Alaska Herbarium labeled from the Porcupine River are uncertain at this time, as the collectors (Howenstein
(deceased) and Borron) were working on the Yukon River in Alaska at the time these collections are dated (Rob Lipkin, pers.
comm.). Due to the few documented localities, some which lack protective management policies, and its very limited distribution,
the current state ranking for the species will not be changed based on these most recent Little Black River collections (Rob
Lipkin, pers. comm.). Erysimum asperum var. angustatum was found on three bluffs in the headwaters of the Little Black River during June 2008. These are the only known locations
on BLM-managed lands.
Montia bostockii (A. Pors.) Welsh
This species was found at three South Fork Birch Creek localities (Parker et al. 2003). Most populations consisted of 10 to
70 plants, but one site supported approximately 300 individual plants.
Oxytropis huddelsonii A. Pors.
Oxytropis huddelsonii was collected on a rock outcrop along a ridge top at treeline above Yukon Fork Birch Creek headwaters (Parker et at. 2003).
A few scattered individuals were found at this single locality.
Phacelia mollis - J.F. Macbr
This is a Beringian endemic, restricted to the unglaciated area of Alaska and Yukon Territory. It is endemic to central-eastern
Alaska and the northern Alaskan panhandle and central and western Yukon Territory (Cody 1996). It has been identified in
the Fortymile River and Healy Lake watersheds.
Physaria calderi (G.Mulligan & A. Porsild) O’Kane & Al-Shehbaz
Recent locations where
Phsaria calderi has been documented include sites in the Yukon Territory’s Ogilvie Mountains, the northern Yukon Territory’s Richardson Mountains,
and Alaska’s Ogilvie Mountains and Keele Range. An East Beringian endemic, it is narrowly restricted to east central Alaska
and northern Yukon Territory. Based on 2007 BLM-sponsored collections from the Keele Range, combined with additional collections
made in the Yukon Territory, the AKNHP global and state rankings of
P. calderi were changed in 2008 from G2G3 S1S2 to G3G4 S2. However, due to the species' restricted distribution, mostly on lands lacking
any protective management policies, this revised ranking is not likely to be changed again unless future collections document
a significant number of new populations and a total range expansion. A significant portion of the known Alaskan distribution
is on BLM lands;
Physaria calderi was collected at three sites in upper Fort Creek (a tributary of the Salmon Fork Black River) in 2007, near
VABM Storm, and also in the Salmon Fork headwaters in 1991.
Poa porsildii Gjaerevoll
Poa porsildii appears to be rare in the White Mountains, where in recent years only a single clump has been found. However, in the South
Fork Birch Creek area flowering plants were abundant whenever the species was encountered, and some patches were extensive
(more than 0.4 ha [one acre]). Until recently, it was known in Alaska only from Lime Peak, Eagle Summit, and Mastodon Dome.
It has recently been documented at VABM Fossil vicinity in the White Mountains, the Ogilvie Mountains, and at many localities
in central Yukon Territory, Canada.
Ranunculus camissonis L. (Schlechter) L.D. Benson
This rare Beringian endemic species is documented in only a few, widely scattered collections from western Alaska and the
Mount Prindle and Lime Peak area in the Yukon-Tanana Uplands.
Ranunculus turneri E. Greene
This species was first described from specimens collected along the Porcupine River near the Alaska-Yukon Territory border
(Greene 1892). Additional Alaskan localities where the species has since been documented include St. Lawrence Island, the
Cape Thompson area, and Mount Casca in the Ogilvie Mountains. During a BLM-sponsored inventory in the Keele Range in 2007,
R. turneri was found at several sites in the vicinity of upper Fort Creek and one population supported several hundred individuals.
Of the additional known locations for the species in Alaska and Yukon Territory, only the Mount Casca area populations, within
Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, have any protective land management policies. Ranunculus turneri was collected at five sites, and observed in a few more sites within the small area inventoried in the Keele Range.
Artemisia laciniata Willd.
In Interior Alaska and Yukon Territory, Canada, Artemisia laciniata is known by a few records from steppe bluffs and open dry woodlands along the central Yukon and Porcupine river valleys,
and from several sites within the Tanana River valley. During BLM-sponsored surveys, the species was collected on a rubble,
shrub-covered slope in the Keele Range in 1991 (Lipkin and Tande 1992), and from a xeric woodland bluff in the Salmon Fork
Black River headwaters in 2007.
Trisetum sibiricum Rupr. ssp. Iitorale (Rupr.) Rosch.
This species has a circumpolar, but primarily Asian, arctic distribution. It was collected from a disturbed, moist site within
shrub heath along a small drainage below Mount Schwatka in the White Mountains NRA. This species was also collected by Gjaerevoll
(1958) on a damp gelifluction hillside near Lime Peak.
BLM Alaska Watch List Species of Note
Draba densifolia
This species is ranked critically imperiled in Alaska (S1) and is known from a very small area. Many of the known occurrences
of this plant in Alaska are on BLM lands in the planning area, including Lime Peak and Mount Prindle areas. Alaska populations
of this species are more than 350 miles disjunct from the nearest populations in Canada and may represent unique genetic material.
Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Global and State Ranking Criteria
Global Rank |
State Rank |
G1: Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or very few remaining individuals), or
because of some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable to extinction. Considered critically endangered throughout
its range.
|
S1: Critically imperiled in state because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or very few remaining individuals), or
because of some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable to extinction. Considered critically endangered throughout
the state.
|
G2: Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences) or because of other factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable
to extinction throughout its range. Considered endangered throughout its range.
|
S2: Imperiled in the state because of rarity (6–20 occurrences), or because of other factors making it very vulnerable to
extirpation from the state.
|
G3: Either very rare and local throughout its range or found locally (even abundantly at some locations) in a restricted range
(21 to 100 occurrences). Considered threatened throughout its range.
|
S3: Rare or uncommon in the state (21–100 occurrences). |
G4: Widespread and apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
|
S4: Apparently secure in state, but with cause for long-term concern. |
G5: Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. |
SP: Occurring in nearby state or province; not yet reported in state, but probably will be encountered with further inventory. |
G#G#: Global rank of species uncertain, best described as a range between the two ranks. G#Q: Taxonomically questionable. |
S#S#: State rank of species uncertain, best described as a range between the two ranks. |
G#T#: Global rank of the species, and global rank of the described subspecies or variety |
|
G?: Unranked. |
S?: Unranked. |