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Silver Bladderpod - Physaria ludoviciana
Other Names:
Lesquerella ludoviciana
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
DRAFT: Requesting feedback on the 2026 revised rank, factors, and State Rank Reason outlined below and in the Conservation Status Rank Report.
Physaria ludoviciana is relatively widespread though uncommon in eastern Montana, where it occurs in areas of sandy soils. Its overall abundance in terms of number of occurrences and population size is imprecisely known, though it appears to be known from at least 40 sites. Confusion and misidentification with the similar and more common Physaria arenosa has been a problem and some observations that lack voucher specimens may be this species. Due to the lack of good population estimates and taxonomic confusion, the species' status in the state is uncertain though it may still be vulnerable to extirpation. However, it does appear to be slightly more common than previously thought.
Surveys are needed to document population sizes and extent, habitat quality and potential threats at most known sites. Reported observations and sites without a voucher specimen or good photo documentaion should be revisited to verify the species' identification. Monitoring at a subset of populations is needed to help determine potential trends.
General Description
Stems ascending, 15–25 cm from a simple caudex. Basal leaves rosulate, erect, linear, 3–7 cm long. Stem leaves similar, reduced upward. Vestiture of 4- to 7-rayed stellate hairs. Petals 6–8 mm long. Fruit globose, 3–4 mm high; style 2–5.5 mm long; seeds 2 to 6 per locule; pedicels curved down, 10–16 mm long (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Diagnostic Characteristics
Silver Bladderpod -
Physaria ludoviciana, SOC
*Pedicles are recurved downward 10-16 mm long.
*Fruits are globose (
not obviously appearing 2-lobed), 3-4 mm high.
*Basal leaves are erect, linear, 3-7 mm long.
Thick-leaf Bladderpod –
Physaria pachyphylla, SOC
*Fruiting pedicels curve upwards (ascend), are 3-10 mm long, and less than 2 times longer than fruit.
*Fruits inflated, narrowly elliptic to globose (
not obviously appearing 2-lobed), and 3-6 mm tall. Style is 1-3 mm long, shorter than the mature fruit (silicle).
*Basal leaves have distinct petioles and blades. Basal blades are oblanceolate to orbicular in shape, nearly 1 mm thick, and cupped (
not folded).
*Plants grow on white to pinkish, limestone and gypsum soils on exposed ridges and slopes in the valley zone.
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
MT to MB south to NV, AZ, CO, OK and IL (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 57
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Sandy sites on the plains, often around sandstone outcrops.
National Vegetation Classification System Groups Associated with this Species
Grassland
Lowland - Prairie Grassland
Stewardship Responsibility
Threats or Limiting Factors
STATE THREAT SCORE REASON
Threat impact not assigned because threats are not known (MTNHP Threat Assessment 2021).
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
MTNHP Threat Assessment. 2021. State Threat Score Assignment and Assessment of Reported Threats from 2006 to 2021 for State-listed Vascular Plants. Botany Program, Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- Al-Shehbaz, I. A. and S. L. O'Kane. 2002. Lesquerella is united with Physaria (Brassicaceae). Novon 12:319-329.
- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
- Quire, R.L. 2013. The sagebrush steppe of Montana and southeastern Idaho shows evidence of high native plant diversity, stability, and resistance to the detrimental effects of nonnative plant species. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 124 p.
- Rundquist, V.M. 1973. Avian ecology on stock ponds in two vegetational types in north-central Montana. Ph.D. Dissertation. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 112 p.
- Seipel, T.F. 2006. Plant species diversity in the sagebrush steppe of Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 87 p.
- Wood, A.K. 1987. Ecology of a prairie mule deer population. Ph.D. Dissertation. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 205 p.
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