Biology:Swallenia
| Swallenia | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| 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
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| Binomial name | |
| Swallenia alexandrae (Swallen) Söderstr. & Decker
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| Synonyms | |
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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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Nature Conservancy
- ↑ 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
- ↑ "ECOS: Species Profile". https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/2239.
- ↑ 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. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/22623848.
- ↑ 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
External links
- Calflora Database: Swallenia alexandrae (Eureka Valley dune grass, Eureka dunegrass)
- Jepson Manual treatment for Swallenia alexandrae
- Grass Manual Profile
- Swallenia alexandrae — UC Photos gallery
Wikidata ☰ {{{from}}} entry
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