Swallenia

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Tribe: Cynodonteae
Subtribe: Scleropogoninae
Genus: Swallenia
Soderstr. & H.F.Decker
Species:
S. alexandrae
Binomial name
Swallenia alexandrae
(Swallen) Söderstr. & Decker
Synonyms

Swallenia is a rare genus of plants in the grass family, found only in Death Valley National Park, California.[2][3]

The only known species is Swallenia alexandrae, known by the common names Eureka dunegrass[4] and Eureka Valley dune grass. This genus was named for American botanist Jason Richard Swallen (1903-1991). The species was named for American philanthropist and paleontological collector Annie Montague Alexander.[5]

Description

This is a rare plant endemic to Inyo County, California, where it is found on a single isolated dune system, the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes in the Eureka Valley of the Mojave Desert, within Death Valley National Park.[6][7]

Description

Swallenia alexandrae is a coarse, tufted perennial grass which grows in sand from thick rhizomes. Its stiffly erect clums, sharp-leafed grass, and erect pale-colored panicle inflorescences are diagnostic.[8]

Endangered status

This is a federally listed threatened species of the United States.[9] The main threat to the species survival has been off-roading, which is no longer permitted in its habitat. Trespassing off-roaders and campers are still a threat to the five remaining occurrences.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 The Nature Conservancy
  2. ↑ Soderstrom, Thomas Robert & Decker, Henry Fleming. 1963. Madroño 17(3): 88
  3. ↑ Swallen, Jason Richard. 1950. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 40(1): 19-21 descriptions in parallel English + Latin, discussion in English, photo of herbarium specimen
  4. ↑ "ECOS: Species Profile". ecos.fws.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  5. ↑ Bonta, Marcia, 1940- (1991). Women in the field : America's pioneering women naturalists (1st ed.). College Station: Texas A & M University Press. pp. 49–60. ISBN 0-89096-467-X. OCLC 22623848.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map
  7. ↑ University of British Columbia Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, Botany Photo of the Day, Swallenia alexandrae, By Daniel Mosquin on December 7, 2007
  8. ↑ Jepson Manual Treatment
  9. ↑ Plant Conservation Report


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