Nitrophila mohavensis

Nitrophila mohavensis
Nitrophila mohavensis
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Subfamily: Polycnemoideae
Genus: Nitrophila
Species: N. mohavensis
Binomial name
Nitrophila mohavensis
Munz & Roos

Nitrophila mohavensis is a rare species of flowering plant in the amaranth family known by the common name Amargosa niterwort. It is endemic to the Amargosa Desert straddling the border between California and Nevada near Death Valley. There are three occurrences known on the Nevada side[1] and fewer than five occurrences in California,[2] and the plant is a federally listed endangered species.

The plant grows only in alkaline salt pans made up of moist and drying, salt-encrusted clay soils surrounded by other halophytes, such as Atriplex confertifolia and Cleomella brevipes.[1][3] Its range is restricted and highly localized, making it vulnerable to severe losses or extinction in a single event.[4] It only occurs within and around the remnants of Carson Slough in the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, which is a protected area but is still affected by alterations in the hydrology of the landscape.[2] The plant relies on saturation of its soil by a high water table, and the main threat to its existence is the pumping of groundwater.[5] Other threats include potassium and zeolite mining in the area and occasional illegal off-road vehicle use.[5]

Amargosa niterwort is a petite rhizomatous perennial herb growing no more than about 10 centimeters tall. It produces erect branches, often in pairs, covered in fleshy oval-shaped green leaves 3 or 4 millimeters long. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or cluster of a few flowers emerging from between the leaves. The flower lacks petals but has pink petallike sepals which fade white with age.

References

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nitrophila mohavensis — ID 56305 Symbol Key NIMO Common Name Amargosa niterwort Family Chenopodiaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Native to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution CA, NV Growth Habit Forb/herb Durati …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Nitrophila mohavensis Munz & Roos — Symbol NIMO Common Name Amargosa niterwort Botanical Family Chenopodiaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Nitrophila — occidentalis, southern Nevada Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • Nitrophila —   Nitrophila …   Wikipedia Español

  • Polycnemeae — Nitrophila occidentalis Systematik Eudikotyledonen Kerneudikotyledonen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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