Taxon Details

Arctomecon merriamii

white bear poppy

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Taxon Summary:

Arctomecon merriamii, commonly known as white bear poppy, is a perennial herb in the Papaveraceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Chenopod scrub, and Mojavean desert scrub, growing at elevations from 490 to 1800 meters. Arctomecon merriamii is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Arctomecon merriamii Cov.
Common Name: white bear poppy
Family:	Papaveraceae
Element Code:	PDPAP02030
USDA Plants Symbol:	ARME2
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G3
State Rank:	S3
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1980-01-01
Date Edited:	2022-02-01

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb

Blooming Period: (Mar)Apr-May

Elevation:
490 - 1800 meters
1610 - 5905 feet

General Habitats:

Chenopod scrub
Mojavean desert scrub

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Rocky

Notes

Notes: Historical occurrences need field surveys; new occurrences found recently. Threatened by mining and vehicles. On watch list in NV. See Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 7:65-80 (1892) for original description, Mentzelia 3:2-5 (1977) for species account, Rhodora 95:209-212 (1993) for taxonomic treatment, and Madroño 44(2):151-169 (1997) for ecological information.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	10
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	10	21 %
Foot traffic/trampling	4	8%
Mining	3	6%
Non-native animal impacts	2	4%
ORV activity	2	4%
Erosion/runoff	2	4%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	4%
Other	1	2%
Non-native plant impacts	1	2%
Grazing	1	2%
Military operations	1	2%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					47
A	B	C	D	X	U
3	6	4	1	0	33

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	30
Recent <=20 Years	17

Presence:
Presumed Extant	47
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA), Nevada (NV)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY), San Bernardino (SBD)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Chloride City (3611668), Clark Mtn. (3511555), Daylight Pass (3611678), Dry Mountain (3611785), East of Echo Canyon (3611645), Echo Canyon (3611646), Fall Canyon (3611772), Grotto Canyon (3611751), Ivanpah Lake (3511554), Mesquite Lake (3511565), North of Baker (3511641), North of Tecopa Pass (3511681), Resting Spring (3511682), Ryan (3611636), State Line Pass (3511564), Stewart Valley (3611622), Stovepipe Wells (3611752), Teakettle Junction (3611775), Tecopa (3511672), Tecopa Pass (3511671), Thimble Peak (3611771), Tin Mountain (3611784), Turquoise Mtn. (3511548), Twelvemile Spring (3611612), Ubehebe Crater (3711714), Ubehebe Peak (3611765), Wahguyhe Peak (3611781), White Top Mtn. (3611774), Wildrose Peak (3611731)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory