Dwarf Bear-poppy (Arctomecon humilis)
Taxonomy:
Listing Status:
Where Listed: WHEREVER FOUND
General Information
A perennial herb with long taproots, woody caudices, and tufts of basal leaves. Short leafy peduncles are only 12-15 cm tall. Due to the short leafy stems, the white flowers appear to float above the cluster of leaves, accentuating the plant’s low stature. The flower of A. humilis usually has 4 petals. The genus name is based on the bear paw-like appearance of the shaggy villous leaves while the leaves of are only slightly lannate with deeply 3-toothed leaves at the apex.
- States/US Territories in which the Dwarf Bear-poppy, Wherever found is known to or is believed to occur: Utah
- US Counties in which the Dwarf Bear-poppy, Wherever found is known to or is believed to occur: View All
| Status | Date Listed | Lead Region | Where Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-12-06 | Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6) | Wherever found |
» Federal Register Documents
| Date | Citation Page | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1979-11-06 00:00:00.0 | 44 FR 64250 64252 | ETWP; Determination that Arctomecon humulis is an Endangered Species |
| 1976-06-16 00:00:00.0 | 41 FR 24523 24572 | Proposed Endangered Status for 1700 U.S. Plants; 41 FR 24523 24572 |
| 2011-06-20 00:00:00.0 | 76 FR 35906 35908 | 5-Year Status Reviews of 12 Species in the Mountain-Prairie Region |
» Recovery
| Date | Title | Plan Action Status | Plan Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-12-31 | Dwarf Bear-poppy | View Implementation Progress | Final |
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-06-20 | 76 FR 35906 35908 | 5-Year Status Reviews of 12 Species in the Mountain-Prairie Region |
|
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 2016-09-29 | Dwarf Bear-Poppy 5-Year Review |
» Critical Habitat
No critical habitat rules have been published for the Dwarf Bear-poppy.
» Conservation Plans
No conservation plans have been created for Dwarf Bear-poppy.
» Petitions
» Life History
Habitat Requirements
Grows in a unique area called the Dixie Corridor, which was created by the meeting of a floristic province, the Mohave Desert, with a physiographic province, the Colorado Plateau. Endemic to specific substrates derived from the Moenkopi Formation. Soils are slightly basic, high in both gypsum and calcium carbonate, and include expanding clays. Elevation may be a restricting factor, as species occurs only on the Moenkopi Formation from 2,700 to 3,300 feet in elevation, with most of the plants occurring between 2,800 and 3,000 feet.
Reproductive Strategy
Flowers in April and May with the peak of flowering occurring in early May. Flowering begins in the second growing season of life, when 23.5% of individuals produce at least one flower and average less than four. The third growing season showed about 62% of the plants flowering with an average of slightly more than 23 flowers per plant. By the fourth growing season, almost all plants flowered with an average of slightly over 34 flowers per plant. Large plants may produce as many as 400 flowers. Almost exclusively on out-crossing with neighboring plants. Flowers are visited by native ground nesting bees and the introduced honeybee. Natural pollination success was found to be high, with 82%-94% success, dependant on densities of plants. Seeds are long-lived and persistent. The seedbank appears to be quite large and the maturation stages diverse enough so that all seeds do not germinate during optimal conditions. Ants appear to be the principal biological dispersal agent.
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.
