Veratrum tenuipetalum, Priority 1. tenuipetalum Heller (VETE4). Colorado false-hellebore. CNHP G4Q? / S4?, Track N. G4?Q N4?. CO S4?, WY S1 Confi- Criteria Rank dence Rationale Sources of Information Distribution (see map below) is “nearly continuous,” so rating C was chosen, but none My observations, Cronquist & others 1 of the pictures or descriptions really fit this species. 1977, Dorn 2001, Weber & Wittmann Distribution C M Not shown in Wyoming’s ‘ Species of Concern’ (was dropped in 1997 because of 2001ab, 2002, WYNDD 2002. within R2 “taxonomic concerns”), and Dorn (2001) only accepts one species in Wyoming, V. californicum. Veratrum tenuipetalum only occurs in Colorado and a little bit of southeastern Cronquist & others 1977, Weber & 2 Wyoming; but some botanists don’t accept this species, hence the Low confidence. If V. Wittmann 2001ab, PLANTS 2002, Distribution A L tenuipetalum is considered synonymous with V. californicum, then this rating would be WYNDD 2002. outside R2 C, but still with low confidence because of the taxonomic disagreements. Plants of this species are usually intensive for the available habitat, so it apparently My observations, Cronquist & others 3 disperses well. Seeds are large and stick in animals’ fur. 1977, Weber & Wittmann 2001ab, PLANTS Dispersal C H 2002, WYNDD 2002. Capability Species is common in the mountains of Colorado, but confidence is Low because the My observations, Weber & Wittmann language of the rating doesn’t apply to vascular plants (“species persistence is not 2001ab, COLO 2002. 4 threatened by demographic stochasticity”). Species is rare in Wyoming (and therefore on Abundance in C L the Medicine Bow National Forest), but that is not a factor in the rating criteria as written. R2 Estimated number of populations in the tens of thousands, number of individuals in the millions. Species is a known increaser with large herbivore browsing – cattle, domestic sheep, My observations, Cronquist & others 5 elk, deer, and others. It is known to be poisonous to livestock, especially sheep. On the 1977, Weber & Wittmann 2001ab, PLANTS Population C H other hand, it is rarely eaten if there is anything else available, so incidences of livestock 2002, WYNDD 2002. Trend in R2 poisoning are uncommon. No reported incidents of big-game poisoning. Moist openings, under moist forest canopies (especially aspen and cottonwood), and My observations, Johnston and others depleted riparian areas. Soils heavy clay, often ponding water after heavy storms and in 2001. 6 snowmelt season. Habitat Trend B H Habitat “quality” is enhanced by heavy grazing by herbivores, and that influence is in R2 nearly stable in quantity in most places, except in deer and elk winter ranges; I estimate that the increase in habitat “quality” due to overgrazing by herbivores in some places, is balanced by reductions in grazing pressure in other places. Unless we drastically reduce the elk herds or eliminate livestock grazing (both My observations, Johnston and others 7 extremely unlikely), there is unlikely to be an effect on habitat quantity and quality. 2001. Habitat C H Vulnerability or Modification Fruit and seeds are large and stick to animal fur; fruit is fairly light and winged, and My observations, Johnston and others 8 can be carried by wind or water as well. Species thrives on disturbance. 2001. Life History and C H Demographics

National Forests in the Rocky Mountain Region where species is KNOWN (K) or LIKELY (L)* to occur: *. Likely is defined as more likely to occur than not occur on the National Forest or Grassland. This generally can be thought of as having a 50% chance or greater of appearing on NFS lands. Formatted COLORADO NF/NG K L K L K L Arapaho-Roosevelt NF K NEBRASKA NF/NG WYOMING NF/NG Formatted White River NF K Samuel R. McKelvie NF Shoshone NF Routt NF K Halsey NF Bighorn NF Grand Mesa Uncompahgre Gunnison NF K Nebraska NF Black Hills NF San Juan NF K Ogalala NG Medicine Bow NF K Rio Grande NF K SOUTH DAKOTA NF/NG Thunder Basin NG Pike-San Isabel NF K Black Hills NF KANSAS NF/NG Comanche NG Buffalo Gap NG Cimarron NG Pawnee NG Ft. Pierre NG

Taxonomy. Accepted as a separate species (of CO and southeastern WY) by Weber and Wittmann (2001ab) and by PLANTS (2002), but not by taxonomists in Wyoming (Dorn 2001), Utah, or the Pacific Northwest. Most taxonomists outside Colorado consider V. tenuipetalum as a synonym of V. californicum. Discussion. From the average rating (2.6), does not qualify for viability concern, especially considering lack of threats and positive response to disturbance.

References Albee, Beverly J., Leila M. Schulz, and Sherel Goodrich. 1988. Atlas of the vascular plants of Utah. Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Museum of Natural History. http://www.nr.usu.edu/Geography-Department/utgeog/utvatlas, accessed August, 2002. Cronquist, Arthur; Arthur H. Holmgren; Noel H. Holmgren; James L. Reveal; and Patricia K. Holmgren. 1977. Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the intermountain west, U. S. A. Volume 6: The . New York, NY: Columbia University Press and the New York Botanical Garden. 584 pp. Dorn, Robert D. 2001. Vascular plants of Wyoming, Third Edition. Cheyenne, WY: Mountain Veratrum californicum West Publishing. “Distributed by Rocky Mountain Herbarium, University of Wyoming.” 412 pp. Johnston, Barry C.; Laurie Huckaby; Terry J. Hughes; and Joseph Pecor. 2001. Ecological types of the Upper Gunnison Basin. Technical Report R2-RR-2001-01, 858 pp. Lakewood, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Rocky Mountain Herbarium. 1998. Atlas of the vascular plants of Wyoming. http://www.esb.utexas.edu/tchumley/wyomap/atlas.htm, downloaded August, 2002. Veratrum tenuipetalum University of Colorado Herbarium (COLO). 2002. Species of Colorado: County Lists. http://www.colorado.edu/CUMUSEUM/research/ botany/databases/County.html, last updated August 20, 2002. Weber, William A.; and Ronald C. Wittmann. 2001a. Colorado flora: Western Slope, Third Edition. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado. 488 pp. Weber, William A.; and Ronald C. Wittmann. 2001b. Colorado flora: Eastern Slope, Third Edition. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado. 521 pp. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD). 2002. Plant species of concern. Distribution of Veratrum species in the Rocky Mountain Region. http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/wyndd/Plants/plant_species.htm, last updated May 1, V. californicum continues off the map to the north and west. 2002, downloaded August, 2002.

Author and date: Barry C. Johnston, Botanist, Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forests, 216 N. Colorado St., Gunnison, CO 81230-2197. (970) 642- 4467. [email protected]. Last modified September 15, 2002.