Introducing two federally listed carbonate-endemic plants onto a disturbed site in the San Bernardino Mountains, California

Abstract

Erigeron parishii and Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum are federally listed local endemic plants occurring almost exclusively on carbonate soils in the northeastern San Bernardino Mountains. In 1991 and 1992, both species were planted onto a barren cut slope above a limestone quarry haul road. The plants were irrigated through the first summer and fall after planting. No soil amendments were provided other than the nursery potting mix surrounding their roots at planting. No effort was made to restore other components of natural habitat (e.g., soil conditions or plant associates). Each plant was tagged. Growth and survival were monitored for 2-3 years after planting, and again 6-7 years after planting. Of the initial plantings, 77 percent of E. ovalifolium var. vineum and 66 percent of E. parishii survived to the 1998 monitoring period. We estimated average half-lives of established E. ovalifolium var. vineum and Erigeron parishii as 20 years and 28 years, respectively. Both species have grown, flowered, and reproduced so that hundreds of progeny of both species now occur at the site. Most progeny of the two taxa were within a few meters of parent plants, and none were found beyond about 30 m from the study site. Progeny of both taxa became established on granitic material adjacent to the study site. E. parishii seems to have greater seedling production but lower establishment rates than E. ovalifolium var. vineum.

Parent Publication

• Southwestern rare and endangered plants: Proceedings of the Third Conference

Citation

Mistretta, Orlando; White, Scott D. 2001. Introducing two federally listed carbonate-endemic plants onto a disturbed site in the San Bernardino Mountains, California. In: Maschinski, Joyce; Holter, Louella, tech. eds. Southwestern rare and endangered plants: Proceedings of the Third Conference; 2000 September 25-28; Flagstaff, AZ. Proceedings RMRS-P-23. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 20-26.