Rare plants hardly get the attention that rare animals do. Despite legal protection, few people even consider that plants can be threatened or endangered. Some don’t even care. In the state of Utah, there is one plant species whose ongoing conservation has created some considerable controversy. Up against the odds, the dwarf bearclaw poppy is on the frontline of a plant conservation battle.
Discovered in 1874, the dwarf bearclaw poppy (Arctomecon humilis) is one of the rarest poppies in the world. It only grows in gypsum-rich soils in the southwest corner of Utah, near St. George. It has a stunning display of white flowers with yellow centers. It gets the name “bearclaw” from the appearance of its fuzzy leaves. Each is stout and tipped with what resembles bear claws. It is only known from roughly 10 locations and many of these are under threat.
Despite being one of the first species ever put on the endangered species list, the state agencies in charge of continued protection of this species have ignored these regulations and have allowed development to continue around some of the few remaining populations. Developments are quickly encroaching on the remaining habitat of this species and most of it is in the form of summer homes and golf courses. Recreational off-road vehicles are another serious threat. The soils in which the dwarf bearclaw poppy grow are very sensitive to disturbance. The delicate soil crusts that the plant requires can take over 250 years to recover from such disturbances.
In a way, this plant could be seen as the poster child for rare plant conservation. There are a handful of agencies working quite hard to conserve what remains of this beautiful little endemic. At the very least, there is a lesson to be learned in that plants need defenders. They are too easily over looked, especially by those who do not appreciate them for the marvels of evolution that they are.
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Photo Credit: USFW (http://bit.ly/1pC0rg5)
And yet Utah is spending millions of dollars in taxpayer money to engage the Federal Government in a legal battle over Federally protected land. They want it to be under State control while they can’t even manage their own shit. This happens on state parks and forests all across Utah. The only thing they’re interested in is turning a buck which is exactly why they shouldn’t be in charge of protecting these endangered species and landscapes.
