Swallenia | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Chloridoideae |
Tribe: | Cynodonteae |
Subtribe: | Scleropogoninae |
Genus: |
Swallenia Soderstr. & H.F.Decker |
Species: | S. alexandrae
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Binomial name | |
Swallenia alexandrae | |
Synonyms | |
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Swallenia is a rare genus of plants in the grass family, found only in Death Valley National Park, California. [2] [3]
The only known species is Swallenia alexandrae, known by the common names Eureka dunegrass [4] and Eureka Valley dune grass. This genus was named for American botanist Jason Richard Swallen (1903-1991). The species was named for American philanthropist and paleontological collector Annie Montague Alexander. [5]
This is a rare plant endemic to Inyo County, California, where it is found on a single isolated dune system, the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes in the Eureka Valley of the Mojave Desert, within Death Valley National Park. [6] [7]
Swallenia alexandrae is a coarse, tufted perennial grass which grows in sand from thick rhizomes. Its stiffly erect clums, sharp-leafed grass, and erect pale-colored panicle inflorescences are diagnostic. [8]
This is a federally listed threatened species of the United States. [9] The main threat to the species survival has been off-roading, which is no longer permitted in its habitat. Trespassing off-roaders and campers are still a threat to the five remaining occurrences. [1]
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