| Swallenia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Critically Imperiled (NatureServe) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| 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 |
| Binomial name | |
| Swallenia alexandrae (Swallen) Söderstr. & Decker | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Swallenia is a rare genus of plants in the grass family, found only in Death Valley National Park, California.
The only known species is Swallenia alexandrae, known by the common names Eureka dunegrass 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.
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.
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.
Endangered status
This is a federally listed threatened species of the United States. 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.
References
- ^ 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". ecos.fws.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
- Bonta, Marcia (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.
- 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
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Swallenia |
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| Swallenia alexandrae |
|
 | This Chloridoideae article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
- NatureServe critically imperiled species
- Chloridoideae
- Monotypic Poaceae genera
- Native grasses of California
- Endemic flora of California
- Flora of the California desert regions
- Natural history of the Mojave Desert
- Natural history of Inyo County, California
- Death Valley National Park
- Threatened flora of California
- Chloridoideae stubs