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Rock spiraea
Petrophytum caespitosum ssp. caespitosum
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5T4T5
State (S-rank): S3
External links
Species range
Estimate from download of data from Utah Rare Plant Database on July 18, 2024.
Geocat 261 observations: Extent of Occurrence: 174,585.240 km2.
Historic observations over 40 years old were not used.
On limestone or granitic outcrops or gravels in the Wasatch and Great Basin ranges from sagebrush upward to spruce-fir communities at 1375 to 3050 m, and on sandstone (Jurassic Entrada, Navajo, and Cedar Mesa, and Triassic Kayenta, etc.) often in hanging gardens in the Colorado Plateau, at 1125 to 3050 m, in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Duchesne, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, Rich (KM 2006), Salt Lake, San Juan, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Washington, and Wayne cos. C. Utah, C. C. Parry 29, 1875, ISC!); Ore. e. to S. Dak. and s. to Calif., Ariz., N. Mex. and Tex. (Welsh et al. 2015).
Threats or limiting factors
The main threats are from habitat degradation due to grazing, mining, fire, drought, and recreation.
Threats compiled using observations and notes from Utah Rare Plant Database and Utah Geospatial Resource Center GIS Data downloaded in 2024. Severity of impacts are not well known so ranges are provided where appropriate.
Many occurrences are within grazing allotments, although most plants are not accessible by livestock there may be weed invasion from nearby heavily grazed areas. Some occurrences are in mountain goat habitat. Feral horses may also be impacting habitat in similar ways to livestock. Observations in the Utah Rare Plant Database note recreational activities (climbing), livestock farming and ranching, mining and quarrying, feral domesticated animals (horses and burros), fire and fire suppression, hiking and foot travel and drought as threats. Drought and climate change is also a threat and likely impacting this species through out it's range (Wrobleski, 2023). Some occurrences may be potentially threatened by mineral exploration. Fire has impacted some occurrences. Recreational use of habitat, such as foot traffic, dispersed camping and OHV related activities, may pose a threat to some populations throughout its range. As the human population grows in areas within easy access to habitat and as recreational use increases, the impacts may become substantially more significant.
