Tuhy Aromatic Scurf-pea
Blake Wellard; Blake Wellard; C. Delmatier; S. Tuhy
Pediomelum aromaticum var. tuhyi
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G3T1T2Q
State (S-rank): S1S2
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Pediomelum aromaticum var. tuhyi, or Tuhy's breadroot, is a Navajo Basin endemic species. It is found on the Jurassic Entrada and Triassic Kayenta, and Mossback formations, on Rone Bailey Mesa, Canyonlands overlook, and Six-shooter Peak, and wsw. of La Sal vicinities in San Juan County. It grows on rimrock or shallow sand around 5,500 to 6,500 feet elevation among pinyon-juniper and mixed desert shrub communities. Pediomelum aromaticum var. tuhyi has flowers smaller than the other varieties of its species. This plant may be spotted among sandstone bedrock crevices by its purple and white to cream colored petals and mainly five-foliate leaves. It flowers May through June.
Description
Pediomelum aromaticum var. tuhyi, or Tuhy's breadroot, is a Navajo Basin endemic species. It is found on the Jurassic Entrada and Triassic Kayenta, and Mossback formations, on Rone Bailey Mesa, Canyonlands overlook, and Six-shooter Peak, and wsw. of La Sal vicinities in San Juan County. It grows on rimrock or shallow sand around 5,500 to 6,500 feet elevation among pinyon-juniper and mixed desert shrub communities. Pediomelum aromaticum var. tuhyi has flowers smaller than the other varieties of its species. This plant may be spotted among sandstone bedrock crevices by its purple and white to cream colored petals and mainly five-foliate leaves. It flowers May through June.
Phenology
Flowering from May throughout June.
Diagnostic characteristics
Pediomelum aromaticum var. tuhyi is similar to var. aromaticum and var. barnebyi. Var. tuhyi has smaller flowers (7-9 mm long) and a prostrate-ascending stem compared to var. aromaticum ( var. aromaticum has 10-12mm long flowers and erect or ascending stems). Var. tuhyi has fewer flowers per raceme (3-7) and peduncles less than 0.5 cm compared to var. barnebyi (var. barneybi has 10-12 flowers per raceme and 0.5-1.3 cm long peduncles).
Species range
Pediomelum aromaticum var. tuhyi is known only from San Juan County where it is a Navajo Basin endemic.
Threats or limiting factors
Threats largely unknown, but due to small population size occurrences should be monitored.
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies