Overview
The Kremmling beardtongue, also known as the Penland beardtongue, is a herbaceous, or non-woody, plant species in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae). This species was formerly classified in the figwort family. In June and July you can find the showy Kremmling beardtongue in bloom. The Kremmling beardtongue is only known to occur on white to tan barren shale soil exposures. There is only one population of the Kremmling beardtongue in the whole world, making the Kremmling beard-tongue a local treasure.
The Kremmling beardtongue is threatened by off-highway vehicle recreation, road maintenance, fugitive dust from nearby roads and utility maintenance. The extremely small range and limited habitat availability make Kremmling beardtongue more susceptible to extinction than other species with broader ranges. Therefore, protection of existing populations is vital to the survival of the species. Additional threats include climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change and non-native invasive plants. Protection of native bee pollinators and their nesting habitat is also essential to the Kremmling beardtongue's survival.
Scientific Name
Identification Numbers
Characteristics
Physical Characteristics
It is a compact, clumping plant with straight and pointed dark green, inrolled leaves, meaning that they curve inwards. The plant grows 2 to 6 inches tall and up to 8 inches wide from a spreading and deep root system, which secures the plant in the highly erodible soils of its habitat.
Its flowers are blue-violet and tubular, measuring 0.75 inches long.
Habitat
Kremmling beardtongue is known from only one site 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of Kremmling, Colorado. It is estimated the species occupies less than 1,500 acres. The plant is locally abundant but highly restricted to sparsely vegetated shales of the Troublesome Formation that are high in selenium. The plant community is dominated by grasses and mixed shrubs, especially sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.
Learn more about sagebrush , rabbitbrush and bitterbrush.
Life Cycle
Kremmling beardtongue has rhizomes and vegetative growth. It is unknown how clonal the species is, nor has its genetic diversity been investigated. We also don't know what the life span of Kremmling beardtongue is. The plant exhibits a mixed mating system, meaning that it can produce seed with pollen from the same plant, but the species is significantly more successful with pollen from another plant. Pollen must be moved from plant to plant with the assistance of pollinators. The primary pollinators are native solitary bees, especially those in the genus Osmia. Conservation of Kremmling beardtongue must include these pollinators.
Geography
The Kremmling beardtongue is endemic to Middle Park in Grand County of northern Colorado, near the town of Kremmling. Middle Park is a high elevation sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.
Learn more about sagebrush valley at 7,500 feet nestled within the Rocky Mountains.
Timeline
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