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Catalina scientists tally 3 ‘new’ plant species

By Gary Robbins on | From sciencedude.ocregister.com

Stream orchid, newly found on Catalina Island. Photo by plant ecologist Sarah Ratay, Catalina Island Conservancy.

An orchid never before seen on Santa Catalina Island and an endangered flower thought to be extinct there are part of a trio of discoveries announced by scientists.

The third, a type of bush mallow, came down to a matter of ecological bookkeeping: Previously classed as a variety of its mainland relative, it has now achieved full species status and is believed to live only on the island.

At the top of the list is the stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea, found in a remote canyon on the island’s south side by Catalina Island Conservancy volunteer Jack Baldelli and plant ecologist Sarah Ratay this spring.

The red, yellow and pink orchid was likely concealed from previous plant surveys by its remote location. It is also found on the California mainland and on Santa Cruz Island.

Lyon's pygmydaisy. Photo Tyler Dvorak, Catala Island Conservancy.

A population of an endangered plant called Lyon’s pygmydaisy, Pentachaeta lyonii, also was found by Ratay in May while she checked a remote ridge. It was previously thought to live only on the coasts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

It’s the first time the plant, a sunflower relative, has been seen on Catalina since 1931.

And the Santa Catalina Island bush mallow was recently reclassified as its own, distinct species. It is known as the “catalinensis” variety of Malocothamnus fasciculatus, and is found nowhere else, a Conservancy announcement said.