Utah Ivesia
Andrey Zharkikh; Matt Berger; Tony Frates; evolvulux
Ivesia utahensis
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G2
State (S-rank): S2
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Ivesia utahensis also known as Utah Ivesia or Utah Mousetail is a perennial herb endemic to the Wasatch and Uinta Mountains. This species favors high elevations of around 3000-3600 meters (9885 - 11000 ft) in alpine tundra and krummholz communities in quartzite talus formations. Ivesia utahensis has primarily basal leaves which are pinnately compound and consists of 30-40 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are white and bloom towards the end of summer.
Description
Ivesia utahensis also known as Utah Ivesia or Utah Mousetail is a perennial herb endemic to the Wasatch and Uinta Mountains. This species favors high elevations of around 3000-3600 meters (9885 - 11000 ft) in alpine tundra and krummholz communities in quartzite talus formations. Ivesia utahensis has primarily basal leaves which are pinnately compound and consists of 30-40 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are white and bloom towards the end of summer.
Phenology
Flowers in August.
Diagnostic characteristics
This species is distinguishable by its highly dissected with 30-40 leaflets as well as white petalled flowers with five stamens and a cup-shaped hypathium. A similar species is Ivesia lycopodiodies, which likely shares a common ancestor that was once found across the Great Basin region but now is separated into two species of which I. utahensis has white petals while I. lycopodidies has yellow.
Species range
Endemic to the central Wasatch Range and west Uinta Mountains of north-central Utah in Salt Lake, Wasatch, Utah, Weber, Duchesne, and Summit counties.
Threats or limiting factors
Main threats to this species are from recreation and grazing related impacts to habitat. Climate change is also a threat due to rapid snowmelt and drought.
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies