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Field Guide


Entrada Skeletonplant

Entrada Skeletonplant (Lygodesmia grandiflora var. entrada)
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Lygodesmia grandiflora var. entrada

NatureServe conservation status

Global (G-rank): G5?T2
State (S-rank): S2

Utah Wildlife Action Plan status

  • SGCN

External links


General information

Entrada skeletonplant, Lygodesmia grandiflora var. entrada, is a perennial herb with white or white-pinkish flowers.  It has wiry, branching stems that form a rounded-clump base. It is endemic to Utah in Emery and Grand Counties. It grows among juniper and mixed desert shrub communities at elevations of 1340 to 1465 meters. 

Description

Entrada skeletonplant, Lygodesmia grandiflora var. entrada, is a perennial herb with white or white-pinkish flowers.  It has wiry, branching stems that form a rounded-clump base. It is endemic to Utah in Emery and Grand Counties. It grows among juniper and mixed desert shrub communities at elevations of 1340 to 1465 meters. 

Phenology

Flowers in June.

Diagnostic characteristics

Lygodesmia grandiflora var. entrada differs from similar species by having mostly white flowers, stiff, spreading leaves, and ligneous stems that branch from the base.

Species range

This species is endemic to Utah in Emery and Grand counties. 

Threats or limiting factors

Alexander (2014) noted grazing-related impacts, the subsequent invasion of invasive plant species, and ATV disturbance in quaternary dune fields and sandy areas across the Colorado Plateau. The southern most occurrences are in rather remote locations. Drought may be impacting this species throughout it's range.

Taxonomy

No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies