Shale barren rock cress (Arabis serotina)
Taxonomy:
Listing Status:
Where Listed: WHEREVER FOUND
General Information
The shale barren rock cress is a biennial plant in the mustard family. This plant occurs only in West Virginia and Virginia and is found on mid-Appalachian shale barrens of the Ridge and Valley Province of the Appalachian Mountains. This plant is highly habitat restricted and the number of individuals per population is low, most with fewer then 20 individuals. Because this species is a biennial, it has two age classes containing nonreproductive and reproductive individuals. Young, nonreproductive individuals have leaves in a basal rosette. Potentially reproductive individuals are present in the form of erect, flowering plants lacking a basal rosette. The flowering stem is composed of 3 to 41 branches. The flowers are small with white or creamy petals. Seeds are yellowishbrown and contain a narrow wing. Mature plants reach a height of 16 to 40 inches.
- States/US Territories in which the Shale barren rock cress, Wherever found is known to or is believed to occur: Virginia , West Virginia
- US Counties in which the Shale barren rock cress, Wherever found is known to or is believed to occur: View All
| Status | Date Listed | Lead Region | Where Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-07-13 | Northeast Region (Region 5) | Wherever found |
» Federal Register Documents
| Date | Citation Page | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2008-12-16 00:00:00.0 | 73 FR 76373 76375 | Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 7 Listed Species: Notice of review; request for information |
| 1989-07-13 00:00:00.0 | 54 FR 29655 29658 | ETWP; Arabis serotina (Shale Barren Rock Cress) Determined to be Endangered Species; 54 FR 29655 29658 |
| 1988-11-17 00:00:00.0 | 53 FR 46479 46482 | Proposal to Determine Arabis serotina (Shale Barren Rock Cress) to be End. Species; 53 FR 46479-46482 |
» Recovery
| Date | Title | Plan Action Status | Plan Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-08-15 | Shale Barren Rock-cress | View Implementation Progress | Final |
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-12-16 | 73 FR 76373 76375 | Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 7 Listed Species: Notice of review; request for information |
|
» Critical Habitat
No critical habitat rules have been published for the Shale barren rock cress.
» Conservation Plans
No conservation plans have been created for Shale barren rock cress.
» Petitions
» Life History
Habitat Requirements
Mid-Appalachian shale barrens are characterized by an open, scrubby growth of pine, oak, red cedar, and other woody species adapted to dry conditions and are found most frequently on eroding slopes undercut by a stream. Shale barrens are isolated islands of habitat with steep southern exposures with elevations of 1099 to 2494 feet, dry, relatively sparse vegetative cover,high temperatures, and low moisture in the summer.
Reproductive Strategy
This plant reproduces sexually and diminished reproductive output brought about by deer grazing may lead to extirpation of some populations. The shale barren rock cress may not be a strict biennial, meaning that the rosettes may persist longer than one year, thus delaying flowering and fruiting beyond the second year. Flowering occurs from mid-July until the first killing frost, usually around November, at which time the plant dies.
» 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.
