Nipomo Mesa Lupine

Lupinus nipomensis

Description

The Nipomo mesa lupine, or simply Nipomo lupine, is a hairy plant with decumbent stems standing 4-8 in (1-2 dm) tall. The leaves, with 5-7 succulent leaflets, are 0.4-0.6 in (10-15 mm) long and 0.2-0.23 in (5-6 mm) wide. Flowers are 0.23-0.3 in (6-7 mm) long with pink petals.

Nipomo mesa lupine was once submerged as a synonym of Lupinus concinnus, but can be distinguished by its decumbent inflorescence, succulent leaflets, lack of axillary flowers, and restriction to sand dune habitat.

Habitat

The Nipomo mesa lupine grows in stabilized back dune habitat. Under the best conditions, this species occurs in dune swales with a higher diversity of native annuals and widely spaced individuals of mock heather. Whichever the case may be, Nipomo mesa lupine requires pockets of bare sand, suggesting a low tolerance for competition.

Distribution

Nipomo mesa tarplant was originally collected in 1937 from Nipomo Mesa. At least three historical localities have been extirpated, including its namesake locality.

It is now found in the Guadalupe Dune region in the southwestern corner of San Luis Obispo County. There is one population made up of 7 colonies with fewer than 700 plants total. These colonies are spread over 1.5 mi (2.4 km).

Threats

The greatest threats to the Nipomo mesa lupine are non-native invasion and loss of habitat. Most of the habitat is already considered degraded by either physical disturbance or invasion by non-native species like veldt grass.

All known occurrences of this lupine are on private lands. Private interests such as development and agricultural land conversion have disturbed the coastal dune habitat. Petroleum extraction and oil field development for energy, as well as other commercial development continue to threaten remaining habitat.

Another major threat is pocket gophers, who have been documented to consume whole colonies of Nipomo mesa lupine. A food source of the gophers, non-native invasive veldt grass, is increasing in the lupine's habitat. As the density of veldt grass increases, the gopher population increases.

Conservation and Recovery

Recovery plans are being created by the U. S. Department of Fish and Wildlife for the Nipomo mesa lupine. The need for critical habitat designation has been deemed prudent, and will be discussed depending on the magnitude and immediacy of the threats. The California Exotic Pest Plant Council has taken steps to identify non-native invasive plants that negatively impact the lupine's habitat.

Contact

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Regional Office, Division of Endangered Species
Eastside Federal Complex
911 N. E. 11th Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97232-4181
(503) 231-6121
http://pacific.fws.gov/

Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
2493 Portola Road, Suite B
Ventura, California 93003
Telephone: (805) 644-1766
Fax: (805) 644-3958

References

United States Department of the Interior. 20 March,2000. "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Final Rule for Endangered Status for Four Plants From South Central Coastal California." Federal Register 65 (54):14888-14898.

University of California, Berkeley. "Lupinus nipomensis." CalFlora Database Project: a botanical resource for California on the internet. (http://dlp.cs.berkeley.edu/calflora.) Date Accessed: July 6, 2000.