Macfarlane’s Four o’Clock – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Photo Credit: Oregon Department of Agriculture

Overview

Species Common Name Macfarlane's Four o'Clock
Species Scientific Name Mirabilis macfarlanei
Federal Listing Status Threatened
State Listing Status Endangered

Ecoregions

Blue Mountains

Located in NE Oregon, the Blue Mountains ecoregion is the largest ecoregion in the state. It provides a diverse complex of mountain ranges, valleys, and plateaus that extend beyond Oregon into the states of Idaho and Washington.

Special needs

Macfarlane's four o'clock occurs on warm, dry, open canyon slopes. Soils are sandy or rocky and often unstable.

Limiting factors

This species has a narrow distribution and is currently known only to Hell’s Canyon and northwestern Idaho. Invasive plant invasions are believed to be a primary limiting factor for Macfarlane's four o'clock. Off-highway vehicle use, construction and maintenance of roads and trails, mining, and herbicide drift are additional threats. Historically, uncontrolled livestock grazing degraded habitat but is no longer a major concern. Inbreeding depression may be a limiting factor for Macfarlane's four o'clock.

Data gaps

Develop seed germination, propagation, and transplanting protocols. Conduct pollination studies. Investigate the extent of the seed bank. Determine whether inbreeding depression affects Macfarlane's four o'clock.

Conservation actions

Actions implemented through the recovery plan (1985) contributed to improved species status and downlisting from Endangered to Threatened in 1996. Continue implementing actions specified in the recovery plan and monitoring at permanent plots.

Key reference or plan

Oregon Department of Agriculture Plant Conservation