Stephanomeria malheurensis (Malheur wire lettuce) Family Asteraceae

Description: Stephanomeria malheurensis is an annual up to 50 cm tall. The single stem branches with glabrous scale-like leaves.  The tight cluster of flowers are usually pink or white, occasionally orange-yellow.

Threats: competition from cheatgrass, grazing, and fire

Overview
There is a single small population in Harney County Oregon.  The population is found on 70 acres within 160-acre Critical Habitat lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.  The annual population fluctuates greatly between 1 and 1050, depending largely on precipitation. Only one plant was found in 1987, and none in 1990.  This plant was discovered in 1966 growing along side its parental species Stephanomeria exigua ssp. coronaria.  The two species are morphologically similar but distinguishable using a variety of criteria.  The one population is on top of a hill in high desert environment.  Big sagebrush and cheatgrass dominate this area.  The primary recovery action is to secure and manage critical habitat.   Other than this plant's historically small range and population, the main threat appears to be from competition with cheatgrass.  In 1985, Portland high school students under the direction of a Bureau of Land Management botanist hand-weeded over seven acres of cheatgrass in S. malheurensis’ range.  This is where reintroduction efforts are most likely to occur.  Studies at the Boise State University have been done demonstrating possible allelpathic effects of cheatgrass, information which may aid in conservation efforts.  Other recovery action includes fences to protect against grazing.
 

Distribution Distribution has not greatly changed since it was discovered in 1966.  The single small population occurs in Harney County Oregon on 70 acres.  The annual population ranges from as many as 1050 plants to none being found.

North American Distribution (map from the Biota of North America Program)

Distribution by County

Sources
USFWS. 1990. Stephanomeria malheurensis (Malheur wire lettuce) Recovery Plan.  Portland, Oregon.
 
 

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