Taxon Details

Mertensia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia

sagebrush bluebells

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Taxon Summary:

Mertensia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia, commonly known as sagebrush bluebells, is a perennial herb in the Boraginaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Great Basin scrub, Lower montane coniferous forest, Meadows and seeps, and Subalpine coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1000 to 3000 meters. Mertensia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Mertensia oblongifolia (Nutt.) G. Don var. oblongifolia
Common Name: sagebrush bluebells
Family:	Boraginaceae
Element Code:	PDBOR0N0G2
USDA Plants Symbol:
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:	G5T5
State Rank:	S3
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	2001-01-01
Date Edited:	2022-03-01

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb

Blooming Period: Apr-Jul

Elevation:
1000 - 3000 meters
3280 - 9845 feet

General Habitats:

Great Basin scrub
Lower montane coniferous forest
Meadows and seeps
Subalpine coniferous forest

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Mesic (usually)

Notes

Notes: Known in CA only from the Warner and Sweetwater mountains. Threatened by grazing. See Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 24:123 (1937) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	2
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	9	75 %
Grazing	9	75%
Logging	1	8%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					12
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	4	0	0	0	8

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	12
Recent <=20 Years	0

Presence:
Presumed Extant	12
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA), Idaho (ID), Nevada (NV), Oregon (OR), Utah (UT), Washington (WA), Wyoming (WY)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Lassen (LAS), Modoc (MOD), Sierra (SIE)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Fort Bidwell (4112072), Independence Lake (3912043), Jess Valley (4112023), Mt. Bidwell (4112082), Payne Peak (4112053), Willow Ranch (4112083)

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