Lupinus nipomensis
Lupinus nipomensis | |
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ESA ) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Genus: | Lupinus |
Species: | L. nipomensis
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Binomial name | |
Lupinus nipomensis |
Lupinus nipomensis is a species of
Nipomo Mesa lupine is a small, spreading annual herb with a stem reaching 10 to 50 centimeters in length. Each palmate leaf is made up of 5 to 7 narrow, succulent leaflets between 1 and 1.5 centimeters long and just a few millimeters wide. The herbage is hairy in texture, but can sometimes be glaborous and new stems emerge in equidistant sets of threes.[4] When first emerging the seedlings have a reddish/purple hue from anthocyanin to help reduce ultraviolet damage. The inflorescence is a small, crowded raceme of flowers each 6 to 7 millimeters long. The flower is pink with a lighter, sometimes yellowish spot on its banner. The fruit is a legume pod up to 2 centimeters long. No traditional pollinators have been found to be associated with this plant - however, it does host a diverse suite of other arthropod interactions.[5] Notably, they are visited by Trigonoscuta (Sand weevil) species which are potentially rare and endemic to sand dunes. It was found that they are negatively impacted by, a gall maggot from the family Anthomyiidae, Delia lupini. D. lupini creates galls on the plant and when vacated, have been observed to host other pests such as Scaphomorphus beetles.
Conservation
This plant is restricted to a small system of sand dunes all located on privately owned land.[2] The biggest threats to its existence include invasive species of plants, particularly perennial veldtgrass (Ehrharta calycina), and herbivory by Botta's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae).[1] They also face increased decrease in habitat due to land use change causing habitat conversion or habitat fragmentation.[6] Recent studies have found that they have specific microhabitat preferences, overlooked in the past, that could be utilized to improve conservation efforts.[7] More specifically, the species often preferred less exposed microhabitats such as dune swales and north facing slopes. Scientists and stakeholders are drafting plans to save the lupine from extinction.[8]
References
- ^ a b c "Plant Profile: Lupinus nipomensis". Center for Plant Conservation.
- ^ a b USFWS. Final Rule for Endangered Status for Four Plants from South Central Coastal California. Federal Register March 20, 2000.
- ^ "Nipomo Lupine Recovery". Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration. May 6, 2017. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
- ^ Walters, Dirk; Walters, Bonnie. "Taxonomy, Demography and Ecology of Lupinus nipomensis Eastwood". Department of Biology at Calpoly SLO.
- PMID 35342564.
- ^ Marshall, Jasmine (November 26, 2001). "Many rare local plants face extinction". Lompoc Record. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
- S2CID 133916043.
- ^ Martinez, Francisco (May 21, 2020). "On the 15th anniversary of Endangered Species Day, SLO County has 47 federally listed threatened and endangered plants, animals to be mindful of". New Times San Luis Obispo. Retrieved 2020-10-24.