Hedeoma apiculata (Mckittrick Pennyroyal)

Hedeoma apiculata (Mckittrick Pennyroyal)

Photograph by Jon Suehiro at www.botanic.jp
Family
LAMIACEAE
Scientific Name with Author
Hedeoma apiculata W.S. Stewart
Synonyms
NONE
Common Name
Mckittrick Pennyroyal
Agency Status
USFWS State of NM USFS BLM Navajo Nation State Rank Global Rank R-E-D Code NMRPTC Status Strategy Status
S3 G3 2-1-2 R SS
Rare Plant Conservation Scorecard Summary
Overall Conservation Status Documented Threats Actions Needed
EFFECTIVELY CONSERVED

No Information

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Description
An herbaceous perennial forming dense tufts from woody rootstocks; leaves opposite, coriaceous, sessile, lanceolate-elliptic, entire, tapered to a conspicuous apiculate apex, 7-15 mm long, 1.5-3.5 mm wide; flowers solitary or in clusters of 2-3 in upper leaf axils, 3-4 clusters per stem; calyx tubular-funnelform, 8.5-9.0 mm long, teeth lanceolate in two sets; corolla of 5 united petals, showy, pink, about 2 cm long, two-lipped, lower lip broad and spreading, 9-10 mm wide; fruit of 4 nutlets, sticky when wet. Flowers July through August.
Similar Species
None, but Nama xylopodum, which grows in the same habitat, has flowers of similar color and can be mistaken for Hedeoma apiculata when viewed from a distance.
Distribution
New Mexico, Eddy County; Texas, Culberson County; canyons on the eastern slope of the Guadalupe Mountains from Spring Canyon in the south to Double Canyon in the north.
Habitat
Limestone crevices of steep canyon walls; usually on north-facing slopes, but it can occur on any aspect if sheltered and relatively moist at 1,700-2,900 m (5,400-8,400 ft).
Remarks
This species was formerly federally listed as threatened. It was removed from the Federal list on September 22, 1993 (58 FR 49244), after discovery of more populations in inaccessible locations with no threats. The species, however, remains rare and endemic to the Guadalupe Mountains. It occurs at 46 documented sites in an area of about 166 sq km (65 sq mi).

Some sources consider the Latin gender of the genus Hedeoma to be neuter. Thus, the specific epithets, which must agree with the generic name in gender, end in -um. Others consider the Latin gender of Hedeoma to be feminine, thus the specific epithets end in -a. Both spellings are found in current literature.

Conservation Considerations
Trail construction and recreational activities could damage some populations in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. This species appears to tolerate fire; it regenerated well after a catastrophic wildfire in 1990.
Important Literature

*New Mexico Native Plants Protection Advisory Committee. 1984. A handbook of rare and endemic plants of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.

Epling, C. and W.S. Stewart. 1939. A revision of Hedeoma with a review of allied genera. Repertorium specierum novarum regni vegetabilis Beihefte 115:1-49.

Irving, R.S. 1980. The systematics of Hedeoma (Labiatae). Sida 8(3):218-295.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; final rule to delist the plant Hedeoma apiculatum (McKittrick pennyroyal) and remove its critical habitat designation. Federal Register 58:49244-49247.

Information Compiled By
Charlie McDonald 1999; last updated 2009

For distribution maps and more information, visit Natural Heritage New Mexico