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