Ivesia rhypara

Ivesia rhypara is a species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common name grimy mousetail, or grimy ivesia. It is native to Oregon and Nevada in the United States.[1]

Ivesia rhypara

Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Ivesia
Species:
I. rhypara
Binomial name
Ivesia rhypara
Ertter & Reveal

This perennial herb grows from woody roots and a branching caudex.[2] It has hairy, overlapping, compound basal leaves and stems up to 15 centimeters long. At the ends of the stems are clustered white or pale-yellow flowers. Blooming occurs in May through October.[1][3]

There are two varieties of this plant. The var. rhypara grows on barren tuff and var. shellyi grows in rock cracks and crevices on pumice and tuff.[1] When the plants grow in rock fissures they sometimes appear to be lined up in rows.[4] Associated plants include Purshia tridentata, Poa sandbergii,[1] Gilia congesta, Sitanion hystrix, Scutellaria nana, and Eriophyllum lanatum.[3]

Threats to this species, particularly var. rhypara, include gold mining, as the habitat contains gold deposits. Other threats include cattle, off-road vehicles, fire suppression, and loss of pollinating insects.[4]

The plant gets the name rhypara ("grimy" in Greek) both from its dusty appearance and from its discoverer, James W. Grimes.[3][4]

References

  1. Ivesia rhypara. The Nature Conservancy.
  2. Ivesia rhypara. Archived 2010-05-27 at the Wayback Machine Nevada Natural Heritage Program.
  3. Ivesia rhypara. Oregon Department of Agriculture.
  4. Ivesia rhypara var. rhypara. Archived 2011-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Center for Plant Conservation.


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