Angelica wheeleri

Angelica wheeleri

Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Angelica
Species:
A. wheeleri
Binomial name
Angelica wheeleri
S.Watson (1873)

Angelica wheeleri[1][2] is a rare species of Angelica, a perennial herb in the Apiaceae (carrot) family, endemic to the state of Utah in the United States. The common names for A. wheeleri are Utah angelica or Wheeler's angelica.[3] A. wheeleri was named by Sereno Watson in 1873.[4]

Angelica wheeleri can grow to 2 meters (6.5 feet) or taller, a distinguishing feature along with its primary opposite leaves. It has a hollow stem and white umbel flowers that bloom between June and August.[5] These flowers produce small, dense, and hairy green fruits.[6] These seeds are lime green and appear similar in shape to a watermelon, consistently around five millimeters long.[3] A. wheeleri grows in wet riparian areas, or seeps and springs.

Angelica wheeleri is rare, and has only be found in as few as 11 locations across 6 counties in Utah (Cache, Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, Sevier, and Piute). It is found in elevations between 1524 and 3050 meters. As a wetland plant native to a desert climate, A. wheeleri is at risk from rising temperatures and longer summers,[3] urban development, stream channelization, water diversions, and other watershed and stream alterations, recreation, and invasive exotic plants.[6] A. wheeleri was also found in the scat of black bears in the Hobble Creek area, a sign on natural herbivory that may also present risk to this plant.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "ITIS – Report: Angelica wheeleri". www.itis.gov. itis.gov. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Angelica wheeleri S.Watson". www.gbif.org. GBIF. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Frates, Tony (2018). "Growing Wheeler's Angelica" (PDF). Utah Native Plant Society. 41: 2–9 – via UNPS.org.
  4. ^ Watson, S. 1873. Amer. Naturalist 7: 301.
  5. ^ Webmaster, David Ratz. "Utah Field Guide". fieldguide.wildlife.utah.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Utah Division of Wildlife Resources". dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  7. ^ USDA, NRCS. 2006. The Plants Database, 6 March 2006 (http://plants.usda.gov). Data compiled from various sources by Mark W. Skinner. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA