White River Beardtongue Sample Clauses

White River Beardtongue. White River beardtongue is a perennial flowering plant in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae). The plant consists of a cluster of stems that grows from a woody taproot up to 50 cm (20 inches) tall. Numerous pale blue to lavender flowers are produced from late May through early July. Detailed descriptions are provided in A Utah Flora (Welsh et al. 2008) and on the Utah rare plant guide website (UNPS 2003– 2013). The species occurs at an elevation range of 1,523–2,044 m (4,996–6,706 feet). The currently known range of White River beardtongue extends from Raven Ridge in Rio Xxxxxx County, Colorado, to the vicinity of Willow Creek in Uintah County, Utah (USFWS 2013b), but may extend farther west with additional surveys (USFWS 2013b). The current population estimate for White River beardtongue is 11,423 individuals distributed across seven populations (USFWS 2013b). However, these current estimates are based on partial surveys, and new populations and individuals may be found with additional surveys (USFWS 2013b). White River beardtongue occurs on both federal and non-federal lands. However, these distributions are based on limited information regarding the potential range of the species and limited surveys throughout most of the currently known range. The species’ approximate known distribution is represented by the 2013 proposed Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis critical habitat (78 Federal Register 47832) in Figure 1. White River beardtongue is a member of the P. scariosus species complex, which comprises four varieties of the species found in the Uinta Basin of Utah (Welsh et al. 2008). White River beardtongue can be distinguished from the closely related Xxxxxxx’x beardtongue (P. scariosus var. garrettii) by leaf width (less than 7 millimeters [mm] vs. greater than 7 mm), corolla color (pale blue to lavender vs. blue), and habitat (calcareous shale vs. non-shale habitats), respectively (Welsh et al. 2008). White River beardtongue and Xxxxxxx’x beardtongue are suspected to intergrade near the western edge of White River beardtongue’s range, and distinguishing the “weakly differentiated varieties” is recognized to be difficult (Welsh et al. 2008).

White River Beardtongue. Approximately 46 percent of the White River beardtongue plants in the demographic monitoring plots flowered, and approximately 31 percent of flowering plants produced seed in 2018. There was an average of 12 seeds per fruit in 2018. Browsing, grazing, or other herbivory was noted on approximately 34 percent of the White River beardtongue plants in the demographic plots; many of the flowering stalks were browsed (removed) from the plants prior to fruiting. The most common type of disturbance noted in the monitoring plots was xxxx or droppings, primarily attributed to native ungulates (deer and elk) and lagomorphs at an average distance of 14.9 cm from White River beardtongue plants. Animal tracks (non-livestock) were noted in approximately 6 percent of the plots, at an average distance of 11 cm from White River beardtongue plants. No damage was attributed to livestock grazing. Vehicle tracks were noted in 1 plot.

White River Beardtongue. White River beardtongue plants composed approximately 2.8% of the total cover within the monitoring plots. The average shrub or tree cover was 0.5% (trace), grass cover was 0.2% (trace), total forb cover was 3.1%, and biological soil crust cover was 1.9%. Bare soil composed approximately 8.9% of the total cover. Average total rock cover (including shale, channery, building stone) in the plots was 80.8%. Litter composed approximately 1.8% of the average cover. Invasive plant species composed approximately 0.1% (trace) of the total cover. Disturbance composed approximately 1.8% of the total cover.

White River Beardtongue. Within the 100 m2 census monitoring plots, a total of 856 plants were counted (average 48 plants per plot) comprising 320 reproductive and 536 non-reproductive plants. Overall, 37% of the total plants in the census plots were reproductive. There was an average of 18 reproductive plants and 30 non-reproductive plants per 100 m2 plot.