Barneby Ridgecress
Lepidium barnebyanum
Other common names: Barneby Pepper Grass
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G1
State (S-rank): S1
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Lepidium barneybyanum is a federally listed as endangered species known from a single locality in the Indian Canyon region of Duchesne County, Utah. This extremely rare species grows within pinyon-juniper and sagebrush communities and in soils that are shallow, fine textured, and intermixed with rock fragments, where semi-barren ridges occur. Barneby Ridgecress has many small white four petaled flowers that bloom in bright mini bouquets above short tuft forming narrow leaves.
Description
Lepidium barneybyanum is a federally listed as endangered species known from a single locality in the Indian Canyon region of Duchesne County, Utah. This extremely rare species grows within pinyon-juniper and sagebrush communities and in soils that are shallow, fine textured, and intermixed with rock fragments, where semi-barren ridges occur. Barneby Ridgecress has many small white four petaled flowers that bloom in bright mini bouquets above short tuft forming narrow leaves.
Phenology
Flowers from May to June.
Diagnostic characteristics
Lepidium barnebyanum is unlikely to be mistaken for anything within its range. Unique characteristics include its tuft-forming growth habit, linear leaves, and white to pale yellow flowers with petals greater than 3 mm long.
Species range
Endemic to Duchesne County, Utah in the vicinity of Indian Canyon.
Threats or limiting factors
The inheriently small distribution (Duchesne County, Utah) and population size (estimated to less than 8,000 individuals) of Barneby ridge-cress may increase the species’ vulnerability to threats (USFWS 2021). The main threats are from habitat degradation due to energy and mineral extraction, drought, recreation, road maintenance, grazing and feral horses. Regulatory mechanisms are inadequate to address threats to the species (USFWS 2021). The potential effects of climate change and drought to the species have not been evaluated (USFWS 2021).
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies