Kalmiopsis fragrans

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Ordo: Ericales

Familia: Ericaceae
Subfamilia: Ericoideae
Tribus: Phyllodoceae
Genus: Kalmiopsis
Species: Kalmiopsis fragrans
Name

Kalmiopsis fragrans Meinke & Kaye (2007)
Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
Regional:Northwestern USA
USA (SW-Oregon: Douglas Co.)

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Meinke, R.J. & Kaye, T.N. 2007. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 1 (1): 9–19; figs. 1-4.

Links

Hassler, M. 2020. Kalmiopsis fragrans. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2020. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 May 07. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Kalmiopsis fragrans in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 May 07. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Kalmiopsis fragrans. Published online. Accessed: May 07 2020.
Tropicos.org 2020. Kalmiopsis fragrans. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 May 07.

Vernacular names
English: Fragrant Kalmiopsis, North Umpqua kalmiopsis

Kalmiopsis fragrans is a rare species of flowering plant in the heath family known by the common name North Umpqua kalmiopsis. It is endemic to Oregon in the United States, where there are just a few known populations, all within Douglas County.[1]

This plant has been known since the 1950s[1] but it was generally treated as a form of Kalmiopsis leachiana.[2] In 2007 it was separated and described as a new species.[3] It differs slightly from K. leachiana in the size and shape of the flower.[1]

Description

Kalmiopsis fragrans is a shrub which grows 1 to 3 metres (3.3 to 9.8 feet) tall. The aromatic, glandular green leaves are oval or oblong in shape and variable in size, up to about 4.5 centimetres (1.8 inches) at the largest. The inflorescence bears 2 to 12 showy pink flowers each 1.6 to 3.2 centimetres (0.63 to 1.26 inches) in diameter. The protruding stamens are tipped with purple anthers and have tufts of yellow hairs around the bases.[2] The plant is distylous, some individuals having long stamens and a short pistil, and some having short stamens and a long pistil.[1]
Distribution and habitat

The Kalmiopsis fragrans range is limited to a small strip of territory along the North and South Umpqua River in the Cascade Range of southwestern Oregon. It grows in rocky habitat, such as scree slopes and piles of boulders, and can take hold in areas with very little soil. The rock type frequently associated with the shrub is tuff.

Other plants in the area include several types of conifers as well as Oregon-grape (Mahonia nervosa), ocean spray (Holodiscus discolor), salal (Gaultheria shallon), redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana), western sword fern (Polystichum munitum), twinflower (Linnaea borealis), wood rose (Rosa gymnocarpa), pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea), fringed pinesap (Pleuricospora fimbriolata), sugar stick (Allotropa virgata), Pacific rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum), vine maple (Acer circinatum), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), western rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia), false lupine (Thermopsis montana), yellowleaf iris (Iris chrysophylla), white-veined wintergreen (Pyrola picta), northern sanicle (Sanicula graveolens), calypso orchid (Calypso bulbosa), cream fawnlily (Erythronium citrinum), and field woodrush (Luzula campestris).[1]

The total population of this plant is estimated to be no more than 2500 individuals. Threats to the rare plant include logging and road construction, but because the plant grows in steep, inaccessible habitat, often in protected areas, some populations may not be affected. Herbivory by animals such as deer may be a threat. The plant may not reproduce efficiently, as evidenced by the apparent lack of seedlings, but it probably spreads via vegetative reproduction.[1]
References

Kalmiopsis fragrans. The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved 10-16-2011.
Kalmiopsis fragrans. Flora of North America. Retrieved 10-16-2011.
Meinke, R. J. and T. N. Kaye. 2007. Kalmiopsis fragrans (Ericaceae), a new distylous species from the southern Cascade mountains of Oregon. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 1(1): 9-19.