Swallenia
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox
Swallenia is a rare genus of plants in the grass family, found only in Death Valley National Park, California.[1][2]
The only known species is Swallenia alexandrae, known by the common names Eureka dunegrass[3] 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.[4]
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.[5][6]
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.[7]
Endangered status
This is a federally listed threatened species of the United States.[8] 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.[9]
References
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- ↑ Soderstrom, Thomas Robert & Decker, Henry Fleming. 1963. Madroño 17(3): 88
- ↑ 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
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- ↑ Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Jepson Manual Treatment
- ↑ Plant Conservation Report
- ↑ The Nature Conservancy
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