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Field Guide


Ostler's Ivesia

Ostler's Ivesia (Ivesia shockleyi var. ostleri)
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Photo by B. Wellard; C. Delmatier; C. Delmatier
B. Wellard; C. Delmatier; C. Delmatier

Ivesia shockleyi var. ostleri

NatureServe conservation status

Global (G-rank): G3G4T1
State (S-rank): S1

Utah Wildlife Action Plan status

  • SGCN

External links


General information

Ivesia shockleyi var. ostleri has a restricted range in Beaver County, Utah where it is known from the Needle and Wah Wah Mountains ranges. This species is often associated with pinyon and ponderosa communities and can grow right out of the crevices of quartzite rocks. Ostler's Ivesia is a leafy plant with tiny pale yellow flowers. The flower petals are subtended by longer sepals which extend past the petals, this characteristic along with its densely glandular, pale green leaves are helpful features to know when looking for this rare treasure. 

The variety is named in honor of the botanist William Kent Ostler who was the first person to collect this species and accession it in an herbarium. 

Description

Ivesia shockleyi var. ostleri has a restricted range in Beaver County, Utah where it is known from the Needle and Wah Wah Mountains ranges. This species is often associated with pinyon and ponderosa communities and can grow right out of the crevices of quartzite rocks. Ostler's Ivesia is a leafy plant with tiny pale yellow flowers. The flower petals are subtended by longer sepals which extend past the petals, this characteristic along with its densely glandular, pale green leaves are helpful features to know when looking for this rare treasure. 

The variety is named in honor of the botanist William Kent Ostler who was the first person to collect this species and accession it in an herbarium. 

Phenology

This species blooms from spring to early summer. 

Diagnostic characteristics

Ivesia shockleyi var. ostleri is a regionally unique species that shares genus level characteristics with Ivesia sabulosa which also grows in the region. These species can be positively identified by their leaves and overall form. 

Ivesia schokleyi var. osterli has leaves that are 2-7 cm long and have 7-10 paired leaflets that measure 1-3 mm long and are each further divided into 2-5 segments. The herbage is pale green. This species can be upright or grow along the ground.

Ivesia sabulosa has leaves that are 3.5-23 (30) cm long and have 30-80 paired leaflets measuring 1-13 mm long and are each usually divided to the base. The petioles have some purple tones to on them. This species is upright and tall growing 10-42 (50) cm tall.

Species range

Ivesia shockleyi var. ostleri is currently known from the Needle Range and Wah Wah Mountains of Beaver county, Utah.

Threats or limiting factors

Threats to this species include invasives such as cheatgrass, climate change, energy development and mining disturbances.

Taxonomy

No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies