Lilium pardalinum subsp. pitkinense
Encyclopedia
The Pitkin Marsh lily, or Lilium pardalinum subsp. pitkinense, is an endangered perennial
herb
of the Liliaceae
family that is endemic to certain wetland
areas in the California Coast Ranges of Sonoma County, California
, USA. This subspecies of Lilium pardalinum attains a height of one to two meters and blooms in the months of June and July. The Pitkin Marsh lily is found in the narrow elevation range of 35 to 60 meters above mean sea level. The etymology
of the genus name derives from the Greek word Lilium which means lily. There are only three known colonies of this rare species
including the Pitkin Marsh, situated near State Route 116
between Sebastopol
and Forestville, California
; a land development proposal has been proposed which would infringe upon this marsh
, which contains a second rare plant species, the White sedge, Carex
albida.
s are red at their outer margins, transitioning to yellow at the centers, with small dark maroon dots. The anthers are purplish-brown. This species
is distinguished from its more common lookalike, the Panther lily
(Lilium pardalinum) by shorter petals and anthers. The whorled
leaves of the Pitkin Marsh lily are staggered along the stem, and are generally ellipical to oblanceolate in shape. Near the Pitkin Marsh, individuals are found which seem to be hybrids with the closely related Panther lily.
The Pitkin Marsh lily is found only in freshwater marshes and wet meadow
s in western Sonoma County, California. There are only three known colonies of this rare plant in the vicinity of the towns of Sebastopol and Cotati, California
. The historic range is thought to have been throughout a slightly wider portion of the wetlands of Sonoma County, with much higher densities of organisms, possibly ranging into the Laguna de Santa Rosa
. This herb occurs only between elevations 35 to 60 meters above mean sea level.
list of endangered plants, and the State of California classified the plant as California Endangered in 1978. The habitat of this rare plant has been greatly reduced from historic levels primarily through cattle
overgrazing
; additional losses have been sustained by collectors seeking this plant for its rarity and beauty. Ongoing threats to this species are deemed to be cattle grazing and alteration of wetland
s hydrology
and water quality
.
There are three known extant colonies of the Pitkin Marsh lily in wetland areas of western Sonoma County. The owner of the first property has denied researchers access to the colony since 1975. It is presumed that the plants still exist, but there is no confirmation of the number of organisms remaining. The second site is the Pitkin Marsh, which was nearly extirpated by land development in 1960s, but approximately 200 plants remain. A major subdivision is planned in the surrounding area, but a "conservation easement" agreement between the California Department of Fish and Game and the landowner will mitigate in preserving this population. The recent threat to the Pitkin Marsh colony occurred when a 27 acres (109,265.2 m²) parcel, including part of the marsh, was proposed for development as a 29 bed residential care facility. This zoning application is pending with the County of Sonoma. At the third known site, where this had once been a common species, only two individuals remain. This loss was due to wetland filling, but was primarily caused by the collection of specimens and bulbs for horticultural use. Owners of the latter two sites entered into voluntary protection agreements with The Nature Conservancy in 1989.
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
of the Liliaceae
Liliaceae
The Liliaceae, or the lily family, is a family of monocotyledons in the order Liliales. Plants in this family have linear leaves, mostly with parallel veins but with several having net venation , and flower arranged in threes. Several have bulbs, while others have rhizomes...
family that is endemic to certain wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
areas in the California Coast Ranges of Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa....
, USA. This subspecies of Lilium pardalinum attains a height of one to two meters and blooms in the months of June and July. The Pitkin Marsh lily is found in the narrow elevation range of 35 to 60 meters above mean sea level. The etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
of the genus name derives from the Greek word Lilium which means lily. There are only three known colonies of this rare species
Rare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
including the Pitkin Marsh, situated near State Route 116
California State Route 116
State Route 116 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in Sonoma County. The route runs from State Route 1 on the Pacific coast near Jenner to State Route 121 south of Sonoma.-Route description:...
between Sebastopol
Sebastopol, California
Sebastopol is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, approximately north of San Francisco. The population was 7,379 at the 2010 census, but its businesses also serve surrounding rural portions of Sonoma County, totaling about 50,000 people...
and Forestville, California
Forestville, California
Forestville is a census-designated place in Sonoma County, California, United States. The town came into existence during the late 1860s and was originally named Forrestville, after one its founders, but the spelling long ago became standardized with one "r". The population was 3,293 at the 2010...
; a land development proposal has been proposed which would infringe upon this marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
, which contains a second rare plant species, the White sedge, Carex
Carex
Carex is a genus of plants in the family Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges. Other members of the Cyperaceae family are also called sedges, however those of genus Carex may be called "true" sedges, and it is the most species-rich genus in the family. The study of Carex is known as...
albida.
Description
The leaves of the Pitkin Marsh lily are typically about 14 centimeters long and one to two centimeters in width. PetalPetal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s are red at their outer margins, transitioning to yellow at the centers, with small dark maroon dots. The anthers are purplish-brown. This species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
is distinguished from its more common lookalike, the Panther lily
Panther lily
Lilium pardalinum, sometimes known as the panther lily or leopard lily, is a native of Oregon and California, where it usually grows in damp areas. Typically it grows to about two meters high; the tallest and most vigorous plants can reach up to 2.5 meters. The flowers are Turk's-cap shaped,...
(Lilium pardalinum) by shorter petals and anthers. The whorled
Whorl (botany)
In botany, a whorl is an arrangement of sepals, petals, leaves, or branches in which all the parts are attached at the same point and surround or wrap around the stem.There are four whorls in a general flower...
leaves of the Pitkin Marsh lily are staggered along the stem, and are generally ellipical to oblanceolate in shape. Near the Pitkin Marsh, individuals are found which seem to be hybrids with the closely related Panther lily.
Distribution and habitat
Meadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
s in western Sonoma County, California. There are only three known colonies of this rare plant in the vicinity of the towns of Sebastopol and Cotati, California
Cotati, California
Cotati is an incorporated city in Sonoma County, California, U.S.A., located about north of San Francisco in the 101 corridor between Rohnert Park and Petaluma....
. The historic range is thought to have been throughout a slightly wider portion of the wetlands of Sonoma County, with much higher densities of organisms, possibly ranging into the Laguna de Santa Rosa
Laguna de Santa Rosa
The Laguna de Santa Rosa is a long wetland complex that drains a 254-square mile watershed encompassing most of the Santa Rosa Plain in Sonoma County, California, USA.-Description:...
. This herb occurs only between elevations 35 to 60 meters above mean sea level.
Conservation
The U.S. Federal Government undertook hearings on listing the Pitkin Marsh lily as early as 1996. In 1997 this species was placed on the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
list of endangered plants, and the State of California classified the plant as California Endangered in 1978. The habitat of this rare plant has been greatly reduced from historic levels primarily through cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
overgrazing
Overgrazing
Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, or by overpopulations of native or non-native wild animals.Overgrazing reduces the...
; additional losses have been sustained by collectors seeking this plant for its rarity and beauty. Ongoing threats to this species are deemed to be cattle grazing and alteration of wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
and water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
.
There are three known extant colonies of the Pitkin Marsh lily in wetland areas of western Sonoma County. The owner of the first property has denied researchers access to the colony since 1975. It is presumed that the plants still exist, but there is no confirmation of the number of organisms remaining. The second site is the Pitkin Marsh, which was nearly extirpated by land development in 1960s, but approximately 200 plants remain. A major subdivision is planned in the surrounding area, but a "conservation easement" agreement between the California Department of Fish and Game and the landowner will mitigate in preserving this population. The recent threat to the Pitkin Marsh colony occurred when a 27 acres (109,265.2 m²) parcel, including part of the marsh, was proposed for development as a 29 bed residential care facility. This zoning application is pending with the County of Sonoma. At the third known site, where this had once been a common species, only two individuals remain. This loss was due to wetland filling, but was primarily caused by the collection of specimens and bulbs for horticultural use. Owners of the latter two sites entered into voluntary protection agreements with The Nature Conservancy in 1989.