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Spiny Greasebush - Glossopetalon spinescens
Other Names:
Glossopetalon nevadense
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.
Glossopetalon spinescens is extremely rare in Montana, where it is known from one, small population on the Bitterroot National Forest. Montana is at the northern edge of the species' distribution. The population is potentially threatened by rock climbing activity as well as spotted knapweed. It is also adjacent to a road, which could make it more susceptible to negative impacts. Trends are unknown.
Survey and monitoring data are needed to be able to assess the potential impacts of any threats and to be able to determine population trends. Surveys of potentially suitable habitat in the vicinity of the known population may locate additional occurrences.
General Description
Intricately branched, glabrous shrubs. Stems to 2 m high, thorny, ribbed, bearing old petiolar bases, green becoming tan. Leaves alternate, short-petiolate, narrowly oblanceolate, entire, 3–10 mm long; stipules lobed, adnate to the petiole. Flowers solitary at nodes of leaf-like bracts, perfect, perigynous; sepals 5, ovate, 1–2 mm long; petals 5, linear, ca. 3 mm long; stamens 6 to 10; pistil 1; ovary superior. Fruit an asymmetrical-ovoid, ribbed, leathery follicle 3–6 with 1 seed (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Montana plants are variety
aridum M.E. Jones
Phenology
Flowering in May or June.
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
OR (Harney and Wallowa cos), WA, ID, TX (Trans-Pecos), CA (south Klamath Ranges, Piute Mtns, Kern County, south High Sierra Nevada, north base of San Bernardino Mts., White and Inyo Mts, Desert Mtns), and northern MX.
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 4
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Rocky canyon walls in the lower montane zone.
National Vegetation Classification System Groups Associated with this Species
Sparse and Barren
Sparse and Barren
Stewardship Responsibility
Threats or Limiting Factors
STATE THREAT SCORE REASON
Reported threats to Montana's population of Spiny Greasebush include disturbance from recreational use and competition with Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe). The state population is found at a popular climbing site, where it grows in the cracks of a large cliff. Evidence of shelter building using sticks and non-native plant material suggests substantial risk from overlapping stressors concentrated at the Spiny Greasebush population. Additional information is needed to understand the severity of impacts due to reported threats (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?- 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.
- Web Search Engines for Articles on "Spiny Greasebush"
