Packard’s mentzelia – State Wildlife Action Plan

Packard’s mentzelia

Photo Credit: Oregon Department of Agriculture

Packard’s mentzelia is an erect, sparsely branched annual 10-40 cm tall, with white to pale green stout stems. The basal leaves are linear and entire or with shallow narrow lobes; the upper leaves are linear to ovate-lanceolate, entire, sessile, occasionally somewhat clasping, and densely pubescent. Flowers are either solitary in the stem axils or arranged in terminal clusters subtended by sessile, oblanceolate, entire, and somewhat clasping bracts. Sepals are five in number, triangular, and recurved and persistent on mature capsules. Petals are five in number, yellow, with or without an orange spot at the base, ovate to round, mucronate or slightly retuse, and 8-15 mm long. Stamens number 15-30 and are 4-10 mm long; the style is 4-10 mm long and equal to or shorter than the stamens. Capsules are erect and cylindrical, tapering to the base, the axillary capsules 1.5-3 cm long, the terminal capsules 0.8-2.5 cm long. The brownish seeds number 10-20 per capsule, and are irregularly angled to slightly prismatic, the angles sometimes shallowly grooved.

Overview

  • Species Common Name Packard's mentzelia
  • Species Scientific Name Mentzelia packardiae
  • State Listing Status Threatened

Ecoregions

    Special needs

    Packard’s mentzelia occurs on volcanic ash high in potassium. This species grows at the base of talus slopes at altitudes of approximately 2700-5250 feet.

    Limiting factors

    Mining, recreational and off-road vehicle activities, and road construction utilizing ash substrate threaten this species. Also threatened by invasive plants. The species is highly vulnerable to climate change, due to predicted changes to the variability of precipitation and hydrologic regimes and its need for particular ash substrate.

    Data gaps

    Conduct common garden studies and investigate genetics behind population variation. Determine the size and longevity of the seed bank. Collect and store seeds at Berry Botanic Garden. Develop propagation and transplanting protocols.

    Conservation actions

    Minimize road construction into side canyons and mining activity near Packard’s mentzelia. Minimize pesticide spraying along local roadways before and during the blooming period, which threatens pollinators. Monitor populations annually.