[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 237 (Friday, December 10, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69195-69203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32021]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AE75
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Endangered
Status for the Plant Fritillaria gentneri (Gentner's fritillary)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine
endangered status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended
(Act), for Fritillaria gentneri (Gentner's fritillary) ( = Mission-
bells). This plant is found only in two counties, Jackson and
Josephine, in southwestern Oregon. This taxon is threatened by
residential development, agricultural activities, logging, road and
trail improvement, off-road vehicle use, collection for gardens, and
problems associated with small population size. This rule implements
the Federal protection and recovery provisions afforded by the Act for
Fritillaria gentneri.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective January 10, 2000.
ADDRESSES: The complete file for this rule is available for inspection,
by appointment, during normal business hours at the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife
[[Page 69196]]
Service, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office, 2600 S.E. 98th Ave., Suite
100, Portland, Oregon 97266.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Robinson, botanist, at the
above address or by telephone 503/231-6179.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Fritillaria gentneri is a red-flowered herb belonging to the lily
family (Liliaceae). Fritillaria gentneri was discovered by members of
the Gentner family from Medford, Oregon, who noticed that a red
fritillary brought into their garden (and seen in a flower arrangement
at a friend's house) was different from the relatively common ``red
bells,'' Fritillaria recurva. The new plant species, Fritillaria
gentneri, was given its scientific name by Helen M. Gilkey (1951). Its
taxonomic status was reviewed by Guerrant (1992), who addressed the
question of whether what is referred to as Fritillaria gentneri is, in
his words, ``a single historical entity''--a distinct species, or
whether different populations of similar plants might have arisen
independently from separate hybridization episodes between Fritillaria
recurva and Fritillaria affinis. He concluded that Fritillaria gentneri
is a separate species (Ed Guerrant, Berry Botanic Garden, in litt.
1998).
Fritillaria gentneri has a fleshy bulb and a robust stem 5 to 7
decimeters (20 to 28 inches (in.)) high. The stems and leaves are
glaucous (having a bluish waxy coating) and are sometimes mottled with
purple. The leaves are lanceolate (arrow shaped), sometimes linear, 7
to 15 centimeters (cm) (3 to 6 in) long and 0.7 to 1.5 cm (0.3 to 0.6
in) wide at the base, and they are often whorled (in groups of three or
more at the same point on the stem). The flowers are solitary or in
bracted racemes (simply branched flowering stem with a small leaf at
the base of each branch), solitary or in groups of up to five on long
pedicels (the stalk supporting a single flower). The campanulate (bell-
shaped) corolla is 3.5 to 4 cm (1.4 to 1.6 in) long and is reddish
purple with pale yellow streaks. The style (the slender elongated part
of the female reproductive organ) is deeply split, about half its
length. The only other red-flowered fritillary in the vicinity,
Fritillaria recurva or scarlet fritillary, has styles that are split
only one-fourth to one-third their length (Gilkey 1951; Peck 1961;
Meinke 1982).
Fritillaria gentneri is restricted to southwestern Oregon, where it
is known only from scattered localities in the Rogue and Illinois River
drainages in Josephine and Jackson Counties. Fritillaria gentneri
occurs in dry, open woodlands of fir or oak at elevations below
approximately 1,360 meters (m) (4,450 feet (ft)). The species is highly
localized within a 48-kilometer (km) (30-mile (mi)) radius of
Jacksonville Cemetery. Seventy-three percent of the known plants of
Fritillaria gentneri are in a central cluster located within an 11-km
(7-mi) radius of the Jacksonville Cemetery. The remaining plants occur
as single individuals or occasional clusters of individuals sparsely
distributed across the landscape.
We analyzed the status of this species and its population trend by
dividing its range into a longitude-latitude grid with macro plots or
cells as the finest unit of resolution. Each macro plot is 0.1 minute
of latitude by 0.1 minute of longitude, or approximately 0.1 square mi
(6.3 acres (ac) or 2.56 hectares (ha)). We numbered the macro plots to
make them easy to locate on topographic maps, using a numbering system
developed by Dr. Andrew F. Robinson Jr. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1998). Fritillaria gentneri was originally reported from 53 macro plots
but currently is extant in only 45 (or 85 percent of the original
number). It has been extirpated from 2 of the 40 macro plots in the
central cluster around Jacksonville Cemetery and from 6 of the 13
occurrences outside of the central cluster of the species.
The rarity of Fritillaria gentneri was confirmed, to some extent,
by information that landowners submitted to us in response to our
proposal to list this plant as an endangered species (63 FR 13819).
This proposal was publicized through outreach efforts and in a news
story in the Daily Courier of Grants Pass. Twelve landowners informed
us that they had a red fritillary on their lands that they believed was
Fritillaria gentneri. The number of plants ranged from 1 to 125, with a
total of 333 plants reported. Two landowners provided fresh flowering
material (including material from the largest site), which in both
cases was determined to be Fritillaria recurva (scarlet fritillary). At
least half (179) of the 333 reported plants are likely to be
Fritillaria recurva. Three landowners provided photographs. Only one of
the photographs showed enough detail to allow identification of the
plant, which was Fritillaria recurva. This species' flowers are quite
similar to those of Fritillaria gentneri and the only reliable
distinguishing character is the depth to which the style is split.
Fritillaria recurva is much more widespread and abundant, but
Fritillaria gentneri does co-occur with it. To confirm whether
Fritillaria gentneri occurs at these 12 locations, field visits will be
necessary during the flowering season (April-June).
It is difficult to get accurate counts of the number of non-
flowering plants at a location for at least two reasons. Many of the
plants remain dormant for several years and do not produce above-ground
stems and flowers. Because a count for any site includes growing plants
only, it does not count the dormant plants. Secondly, actively growing
plants may be grazed early on in the growing season by deer, and thus
do not set flower and are impossible to locate and census. One survey
counted 60 flowering plants and 200 non-flowering plants (Rolle 1988b).
Knowing exactly how many plants are present is less important than
knowing the size of the breeding population, which is an important
variable. For long-term genetic evolutionary flexibility, a breeding
population needs to be greater than 500 plants (Falk and Hoslinger
1991). Even if all the new reports represent Fritillaria gentneri, the
entire species would barely exceed the minimum number of reproducing
plants needed for long-term genetic integrity. The minimum numbers of
plants needed to ensure the species' long-term survival in the face of
threats to its habitat are probably much greater.
Ownership information is currently available for 50 of the 53 total
number of macro plots. Thirteen macro plots are on lands managed by the
Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Two are on a
right-of-way managed by the Oregon State Department of Transportation,
District 8. Three are on lands managed by Southern Oregon University.
Seven are on lands managed by the City of Jacksonville. The remaining
25 macro plots are privately owned land, so about half of this plant's
current distribution (20 out of 45 macro plots with extant populations)
is on private lands.
Estimated numbers of flowering plants in the 45 macro plots ranged
from 1 (for 12 plots) to 100 (Pelton Road plot). The total number of
flowering plants in the 45 macro plots is 340. The amount of habitat
occupied within a macro plot varied from the space occupied by a single
plant (1 square m or 10.75 square ft) to 1.2 ha (3 ac). The counts of
flowering plants are likely to be very accurate because the plants are
so easy to spot; however, no estimates are available of how many
nonflowering or dormant plants might be in the same area.
Fritillaria gentneri exists in elevations ranging from
approximately 180 to 1,360 m (600 to 4,450 ft). According to J. Kagan
(Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland, Oregon, pers. comm.
[[Page 69197]]
1997), Fritillaria gentneri is found in three habitats--oak woodlands
dominated by Quercus garryana (Oregon white oak); mixed hardwood forest
dominated by Quercus kelloggii (California black oak), Quercus
garryana, and Arbutus menziesii (madrone); and coniferous forests
dominated by Arbutus menziesii and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir).
Although there are thousands of acres of these three habitat types that
range from Grants Pass, Oregon to south of the Oregon-California
border, The Nature Conservancy classifies one of these three habitats,
the oak woodland, as endangered throughout its range; the other two
habitats are threatened. All three are threatened by urban and
agricultural development and fire suppression.
Fritillaria gentneri typically grows in or on the edge of open
woodlands with Quercus garryana and Arbutus menziesii as the most
common overstory plants. Pinus ponderosa (western yellow pine) and
Pseudotsuga menziesii are also frequently present. Arctostaphylos
viscida (white-leaved manzanita), Ceanothus cuneatus (buckbrush),
Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush), Cercocarpus betuloides (plume tree),
Quercus sadleriana (Sadler oak), and Rhus diversiloba (poison oak) are
commonly encountered understory shrub species. Herbs are typical of
those found in the Rogue Valley foothills--Arabis subpinnatifida (ashy
rock cress), Astragalus accidens var. hendersoni (Rogue River
milkvetch), Bromus ciliatus (fringed brome), Dodecatheon hendersoni
(Henderson's shootingstar), Festuca californica (California fescue),
Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue), Fragaria vesca var. bracteata (woods
strawberry), Fritillaria affinis (mission bells), Fritillaria recurva
(scarlet fritillary), Lewisia spp. (lewisia), Lomatium utriculatum
(fineleaf biscuit-root), Poa sandbergii (Sandberg's bluegrass),
Ranunculus occidentalis (western buttercup), Romanzoffia suksdorfii
(Suksdorf's romanzoffia), Senecio spp. (groundsel), Sidalcea spp.
(checker-mallow), Stipa lemmonii (Lemmon's needle grass), and Vicia
americana (American vetch). Fritillaria gentneri can also grow in open
chaparral/grassland habitat, which is often found within or adjacent to
the mixed hardwood forest type, but always where some wind or sun
protection is provided by other shrubs. It does not grow on extremely
droughty sites. For unknown reasons, much apparently potential habitat
within the species range is unoccupied.
Rolle (1988e) stated that Fritillaria gentneri often grows in
places that have experienced human disturbance and eventually became
revegetated (e.g., old road cuts, alongside trails, bulldozer routes,
old mounds left from past mining or other earth-moving activities). At
least 50 percent of the sites Rolle (1988e) documented exhibited signs
of disturbance in the past. Rolle has not, however documented that
earth-moving activity has spread bulblets. The species seems to require
some infrequent but regular level of disturbance such as the historic
pattern of fire frequency in the Rogue and Illinois River valleys. It
is not an early colonizer of these sites but eventually takes advantage
of the opening or edge effect created. It appears to be a mid-
successional species in that it establishes after other plants have
colonized a disturbed area, but before taller vegetation becomes
established and shades it out.
Fritillaria gentneri is a perennial species that reproduces
asexually by bulblets. The bulblets break off and form new plants.
According to E. Guerrant (pers. comm. 1997), even though some
Fritillaria gentneri plants may form fruits and seeds if pollinated, no
good evidence exists that the seeds produced are fertile or viable.
Hummingbirds or bumble bees are presumed to be the primary pollinators
(E. Guerrant, in litt. 1998). Guerrant (1992) sampled eight clusters
and found a few plants that had seeds, but obvious embryos were not
documented. Guerrant stated that Fritillaria gentneri may be sterile,
that the plant is largely reproducing asexually, and that the sexual
reproduction of the plant needs to be better documented.
Previous Federal Action
Federal actions on Fritillaria gentneri began as a result of
section 12 of the Act, which directed the Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution to prepare a report on plants considered to be endangered,
threatened, or extinct in the United States. This report, designated as
House Document No. 94-51, was presented to Congress on January 9, 1975,
and included Fritillaria gentneri as a threatened species. We published
a notice in the Federal Register on July 1, 1975 (40 FR 27823) of our
acceptance of the report of the Smithsonian Institution as a petition
within the context of section 4(c)(2) (petition provisions are now
found in section 4(b)(3) of the Act) and our intention to review the
status of the plant taxa named therein.
We initially included Fritillaria gentneri as a ``category 2
candidate'' in a Notice of Review published on December 15, 1980 (45 FR
82510). Category 2 candidate species were taxa for which data in our
possession indicated listing may be appropriate, but for which
additional data on biological vulnerability and threats were needed to
support a proposed rule. On September 30, 1993 (58 FR 51166), we
published a Notice of Review upgrading this species to a category 1
status, meaning we had sufficient information on biological
vulnerability and threats to support a proposal to list Fritillaria
gentneri as an endangered or threatened species. Upon publication of
the February 28, 1996, Notice of Review (61 FR 7605), we ceased using
category designations and included Fritillaria gentneri as a candidate
species. Candidate species are those for which we have on file
sufficient information on biological vulnerability and threats to
support proposals to list them as threatened or endangered species. We
retained Fritillaria gentneri as a candidate species in the September
19, 1997, Review of Plant and Animal Taxa (62 FR 49398).
On March 23, 1998, we published in the Federal Register (63 FR
13819) a proposed rule to list Fritillaria gentneri as an endangered
species. The processing of this final rule conforms with our Listing
Priority Guidance published in the Federal Register on October 22, 1999
(64 FR 57114). The guidance clarifies the order in which we will
process rulemakings. Highest priority is processing emergency listing
rules for any species determined to face a significant and imminent
risk to its well-being (Priority 1). Second priority (Priority 2) is
processing final determinations on proposed additions to the lists of
endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. Third priority is
processing new proposals to add species to the lists. The processing of
administrative petition findings (petitions filed under section 4 of
the Act) is the fourth priority. The processing of critical habitat
determinations (prudency and determinability decisions) and proposed or
final designations of critical habitat will no longer be subject to
prioritization under the Listing Priority Guidance. This final rule is
a Priority 2 action and is being completed in accordance with the
current Listing Priority Guidance. We have updated this rule to reflect
any changes in information concerning distribution, status, and threats
since the publication of the proposed rule.
Summary of Comments and Recommendations
In the March 23, 1998, proposed rule (63 FR 13819) and associated
notifications, we requested all interested parties to submit factual
reports or
[[Page 69198]]
information that might contribute to the development of a final listing
decision. We contacted and requested comments from appropriate Federal
and State agencies, county and city governments, scientific
organizations, private land owners, industrial land owners, and other
interested parties. Newspaper notices inviting public comments were
published in the Oregonian (with statewide circulation) on May 1 and
May 2, 1998.
During the comment period following the publication of the proposed
rule, we received 18 written comments. Sixteen favored and two opposed
the listing of Fritillaria gentneri. Several commenters provided
information on the status of this plant at several sites and on
threats, notably from Centaurea solstitialis (yellow star thistle) and
herbicides used to control the thistle. The new information updated the
information presented in the proposed rule and is incorporated into
this final rule. Comments questioning or opposing the proposed rule
have been grouped into issues for discussion.
Issue 1: One commenter opposed listing Fritillaria gentneri until a
thorough search has been conducted for additional populations in order
to get an accurate count of the total numbers of Fritillaria gentneri.
Our Response: The Act requires us to make listing decisions using
the best available scientific and commercial data. Section 4 of the Act
mandates that we consider the threats to the species based on the five
listing factors (see the Summary of Factors Affecting the Species
section of this rule). The information currently available is
sufficiently complete and accurate and indicates that listing is
appropriate. While more plants may exist, the range of Fritillaria
gentneri is small, and the currently known number of flowering plants
is extremely small. Fritillaria gentneri has been searched for by
knowledgeable people for years, making it unlikely that a significant
number of new Fritillaria gentneri are yet to be discovered. Because
plants tend to suffer mass mortality from random environmental events
(such as fires, landslides, or shading out by encroaching trees),
plants are usually considered safe only when they occur in large
numbers, usually thousands of individual plants. Finding even several
hundred new plants would not greatly change the current status.
Information submitted by 12 landowners during the comment period on red
fritillary plants that might be Fritillaria gentneri (as detailed in
the ``Background'' section of this rule) did not confirm additional
plants, although it would be worthwhile to arrange field visits to the
sites if the landowners are interested. The landowners, for the most
part, indicated that they are protecting their plants. However, none of
the landowners indicated that they were managing the habitat in such a
manner as to slow or reverse the threat from shading of over-story
trees as the forests mature. Without some sort of disturbance to create
habitat within these oak woodlands, eventually Fritillaria gentneri
will disappear as the forests mature. Thus, if additional occupied
habitat is verified, it will probably be facing successional threats
and would not reduce the need for listing Fritillaria gentneri.
Issue 2: One commenter opposed the listing because Fritillaria
gentneri was already listed under the State of Oregon's Endangered
Species Act. The commenter also questioned why the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service is involved with plants and listing Fritillaria
gentneri.
Our Response: We considered all the existing regulatory mechanisms
applicable to the species Fritillaria gentneri on private, State, and
Federal lands throughout its range. These issues are discussed in
detail in this rule under the ``Summary of Factors Affecting the
Species'' (Factor D) section of this rule. We conclude that existing
regulatory mechanisms do not currently provide adequate protection for
this plant. The Federal listing of this species will protect it from a
variety of unauthorized activities including removal or reduction to
possession from areas under Federal jurisdiction or in violation of a
State law, including criminal trespass. The Federal Endangered Species
Act provides protection to listed plant species when landowners seek
Federal permits, funding, or Federal loans for a land development
project or other activities that may affect the species. Section
7(a)(2) of the Act requires Federal agencies to ensure that activities
they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of such a species or to destroy or adversely modify
its critical habitat.
The Oregon Endangered Species Act directs the Oregon Department of
Agriculture (ODA) to maintain a strong program to conserve and protect
native plant species classified by the State as threatened or
endangered. The ODA is able to regulate the import, export, or
trafficking of State-listed plant species when they are in transit.
However, the ODA's ability to protect plant populations is limited to
``land owned or leased by the state, or for which the state holds a
recorded easement.'' Nothing in the Oregon Endangered Species Act is
intended to require the owner of any commercial forest land or other
private land or Federal agencies to take action to protect a threatened
or endangered plant species on their lands. Thus, the protection
provided by the State listing for Fritillaria gentneri extends only to
those plant populations on State lands, which includes only 12 macro
plots or less than 24 percent of the macro plots occupied by
Fritillaria gentneri. As a result, Fritillaria gentneri occurring on
private lands receives no protection from their State status as
endangered. The only sites occupied by this plant that come under the
protection of the Oregon Endangered Species Act are at the Log Town
Cemetery on an Oregon Department of Transportation right-of-way,
Southern Oregon University lands, and lands managed by the City of
Jacksonville. Listing Fritillaria gentneri under the Federal Endangered
Species Act provides protection to all occurrences of Fritillaria
gentneri.
Additionally, the trade prohibitions and permit requirements of the
Federal Endangered Species Act provide additional protection against
interstate trade in this plant. All prohibitions of section 9(a)(2) of
the Act, implemented by 50 CFR 17.61 for endangered plants, apply.
These prohibitions, in part, make it illegal for any person subject to
the jurisdiction of the United States to import or export, transport in
interstate or foreign commerce in the course of a commercial activity,
sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce, or remove and
reduce the species to possession from areas under Federal jurisdiction.
In addition, the Act prohibits malicious damage or destruction of
endangered plants on Federal lands or the removal, cutting, digging up,
damaging, or destroying of such plants in knowing violation of any
State law or regulation, including criminal trespass law. Certain
exceptions to the prohibitions apply to our agents and State
conservation agencies.
As to why we are involved with plants and listing Fritillaria
gentneri, Congress passed the Act to provide protection for animal and
plant species that are threatened or endangered with becoming extinct.
The Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to determine whether any
species is endangered or threatened. The Director of the Service is
responsible to the Secretary of the Interior for the administration of
the Act (16 U.S.C. Secs. 1531-1544). Additional information about our
involvement with plants can be found in the ``Previous Federal Action''
section of this rule.
[[Page 69199]]
Peer Review
In accordance with our peer review policy published July 1, 1994
(59 FR 34270), we solicited the expert opinions of appropriate and
independent specialists regarding pertinent scientific or commercial
data relating to the biological and ecological information for
Fritillaria gentneri. Comments provided by Richard Maudlin, Barbara
Mumblo (a private botanical consultant in Southwest Oregon), Dr. Ed
Guerrant (Conservation Director, the Berry Botanic Garden), and the
Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center supported our position that
Fritillaria gentneri was endangered, and their comments were
incorporated into this final rule.
Summary of Factors Affecting the Species
Section 4 of the Act and the regulations (50 CFR Part 424) that
implement the listing provisions of the Act lay out the procedures for
adding species to the Federal lists. A species may be determined to be
endangered or threatened due to one or more of the five factors
described in Section 4(a)(1). These factors and their application to
Fritillaria gentneri (Gentner's fritillary) (= Mission-bells) are as
follows:
A. The Present or Threatened Destruction, Modification, or Curtailment
of its Habitat or Range
In the following discussion, the term ``development'' includes
housing construction, such as driveway placement, lots for sale,
cemetery expansion, trail maintenance, road widening, enlarging a
landfill, power line maintenance, water system construction, and
agricultural conversions.
Fritillaria gentneri is found only in the rural foothills of the
Rogue and Illinois River valleys in Jackson and Josephine Counties,
Oregon. Within this range, the plant occurs as lone individuals or
small clusters of individuals sparsely distributed across the
landscape. Together these individuals and clusters are thought to form
either one single population of approximately 340 flowering plants or a
few smaller populations and isolated individuals. As stated previously,
this species was originally documented to occur in 53 locations (macro
plots). Between 1941 and the present, the plant has been extirpated
from 8 of 53 macro plots. Three locations, Grants Pass, Medford, and
Murphy, were vague locations and have never been relocated since the
original collections by Gentner (1941) and Gilkey (1951). We believe
that the populations at these three locations were probably destroyed
by development. Since 1982, Kagan and Rolle documented construction for
homes, schools, associated roads, driveways, and agricultural
conversions that destroyed all the plants at five locations that
include Lyman Mountain (Kagan 1982g and pers. comm. 1997; Rolle 1988f),
Merlin (Kagan 1982a and pers. comm. 1997), Ramsey Road (Kagan 1982f and
pers. comm. 1997), State Highway 238 (Gentner 1948, Kagan 1982c and
pers. comm. 1997), and Winona (Kagan 1982b and pers. comm. 1997).
The threat of habitat loss to Fritillaria gentneri is evident when
both the size and the status of the scattered clusters throughout the
species' range are examined. Cluster sizes range from 1 plant to 100.
Of the 45 macro plots currently occupied by Fritillaria gentneri, only
8 are in an area of habitat equal to or greater than 0.4 ha (1 ac).
Many are in areas smaller than 0.04 ha (0.1 ac) (Service 1997). With
such limited area, a small amount of disturbance could extirpate all of
the plants in a local area.
Habitat loss is the main threat to this species. Habitat loss due
to ongoing or future development may occur at 42 percent of the
occupied sites (19 macro plots--all within the central core area).
Ongoing development accounts for 13 percent (6 macro plots) of the
anticipated habitat loss with all the development but Pelton Road being
in the central core area. Future development may include loss of
habitat for the other 29 percent (13) of the occupied sites, with all
of this occurring within the central core area (U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service 1997).
Ongoing development is threatening Fritillaria gentneri in six
locations. Rolle (1988b) noted that at Pelton Road, outside the core
area, habitat was being destroyed as he was sampling the cluster. On
that site visit, Rolle (1988b) reported 60 flowering plants and 200
nonflowering plants, noting that it was the best example of Fritillaria
gentneri that he had seen. During his observation, he noted that brush
was being piled upon the plants for a road-widening project. Of the 48
plants flagged, 23 individuals were missing when Rolle (1988d) returned
to collect seeds. In 1990, Guerrant (1990) reported only 50 to 100
plants at the Pelton Road site. According to Wayne Rolle (U.S. Forest
Service (Forest Service), Ashland, Oregon, pers. comm. 1997), one-
quarter of the cluster has been destroyed as a result of road widening.
It is not known what happened to the other missing plants. Within the
core area, at the Jackson County Landfill, at least half of the
Fritillaria gentneri plants in one of the five sites at the dump were
bulldozed as a result of road construction and dump expansion in 1988
(Rolle 1988d). Near the entrance to Jackson County Landfill, Rolle
(1988a) reported four plants present. In 1988, Rolle (1988d) flagged
three of these plants and reported that two of the plants were
bulldozed. Guerrant (pers. comm. 1997) reported that the dump site is
still expanding toward other Fritillaria gentneri plants, but the
expansion had stopped just short of destroying the rest of the plants.
Future development is possible for about 13 locations (macro plots)
of the species (29 percent of the total) from the central core area
that includes plants growing at Bellinger Hill, Britt Grounds,
Jacksonville Cemetery, Placer Hill Drive, and Sterling Creek Road.
Rolle (pers. comm. 1997) stated that some of the Bellinger Hill plants
occurred in a private backyard. At the time of Rolle's sighting, that
section of the backyard was not maintained, therefore allowing
Fritillaria gentneri to grow. The other plants were in an area where
housing development was occurring (Rolle pers. comm. 1997). On Britt
Grounds, 110 plants of Fritillaria gentneri were documented in 1993
(Tomlins 1993) on 39 ha (97 ac) of land managed by BLM or Southern
Oregon University. Two development threats face the Britt Grounds
plants, trail construction and construction of a city waterline. Trail
construction will affect all of the plants, whereas the waterline
construction will impact half of the plants. Maxxon (1985) reported
that there were approximately 50 plants in the Jacksonville Cemetery
area, about half of them (18 to 24 plants) on private land east of the
northeast corner of the cemetery property. Kagan (pers. comm. 1997)
reported that the city is currently developed up to the eastern side of
the cemetery, and probably those 18 to 24 plants have been lost. The
property on the eastern side of the cemetery, part of an 1851 land
grant, has been divided into 2 to 4-ha (5 to 10-ac) parcels, and some
homes have been built and more are planned where Fritillaria gentneri
currently exists. One of these areas has already been excavated for a
home site (Maudlin in litt. 1998). Highway 238 also is proposed to
extend through the area where Fritillaria gentneri grows (Maudlin in
litt. 1998). Within the cemetery proper, Maxxon (1985) mapped 12 plants
growing on cemetery plots. As the cemetery expands, additional plants
may be destroyed during excavation; at least eight plants mapped by
Maxxon (1985) currently
[[Page 69200]]
grow on unused burial plots. West and uphill from the cemetery, Rolle
(1988g) documented approximately 15 plants at scattered stations along
the trail system. Any additional trail construction may destroy some of
these plants. In 1988, Rolle (1988g) found six flowering plants of
Fritillaria gentneri along Placer Hill Drive and flagged five of the
plants. On returning, he discovered that a new driveway was scheduled
to be constructed that would go through the Placer Hill Drive location
(Rolle 1988d). In 1992, some plants remained on the site (Guerrant
1992), but today the property is for sale (Rolle, pers. comm. 1997).
The property across the street was also for sale (Guerrant, pers. Comm.
1997). Similarly, Rolle (pers. comm. 1997) reported that the Sterling
Creek plants occur on 40.4 square m (less than 0.01 ac) and that this
area is threatened by development. The most threatened areas are on
private lands where development poses an immediate threat to the
population. Of the 45 extant macro plots, 20 occur on private lands and
are unlikely to persist over the long term.
Desirable habitat on public lands is still being removed. Joan
Seevers (BLM, Medford, Oregon, pers. comm. 1997) confirmed that of the
13 sites containing plants on BLM lands, 7 were threatened with
logging. Tomlins (1993) stated that salvage logging had disturbed some
of the plants at Britt Grounds. Seevers (pers. comm. 1997) also
reported that Britt Grounds and Sterling Mine ditch had trails near the
cluster of plants. Hikers, bikers, and horseback riders all use the
trails and have the potential to trample and pick the plants. At the
Antioch Road 2 location, Henshel (1994c) noted that the plants were
located on both sides of a dirt bike trail.
B. Overutilization for Commercial, Recreational, Scientific, or
Educational Purposes
Many species of Fritillaria are cultivated. According to Gilkey
(1951), Fritillaria gentneri was successfully grown in the Gentner
family garden and the Gentners saw the species being used in flower
arrangements. This native lily is quite attractive, and furthermore,
the genus Fritillaria has many species (mostly from Eurasia) that are
widely cultivated, including guinea flowers and crown imperial. ``Bulb
fanciers the world over worship at the feet of this captivating clan of
lily-like plants'' (Kruckeberg 1996). Kruckeberg also comments that
``the collecting of bulbs can no longer be countenanced as fritillaries
are fast disappearing from their native habitats,'' and he recommended
propagation from seed.
The rarity of Fritillaria gentneri may attract horticulturists
seeking to cultivate rare species. Furthermore, the viability of the
seed set of Fritillaria gentneri is very poor, and the capsules tend to
be eaten by wildlife before seed can mature (Rolle 1988d). Lack of
viable seed increases the incentive for collectors to dig the bulbs.
Twenty-two (43 percent) of the known sites had 3 or fewer individuals.
Because the species occurs in small, isolated clusters, a collector
could decimate an entire clump in one gathering, extirpating the plant
from that area. Roadside populations of Fritillaria gentneri are
especially vulnerable to collection. Kagan (1982d), Rolle (1988c; pers.
comm. 1997), and Guerrant (pers. comm. 1997) documented that 40 percent
of the total estimated number of plants (136) have a good potential for
roadside collection. The plants were visible from the road at Logtown
Cemetery, Paradise Ranch Road, Pelton Road, Placer Hill Drive,
Poorman's Gulch, Sailor Gulch, Sterling Creek Road, and Wagon Trail
Drive and, when flowering, could attract attention (Guerrant pers.
comm. 1997). Collecting has been documented in Britt Grounds (Tomlins
1993, Seever pers. comm. 1997) along the trails. Disseminating
specific, sensitive location records can encourage illegal collection
(M. Bosch, Forest Service, in litt. 1997; B. Mumblo, in litt. 1998).
Overcollection of other lilies such as Lilium occidentale (western
lily), a federally listed endangered species (59 FR 42171), has been
documented by Ballantyne (1980) and Schultz (1989).
C. Disease or Predation
Fritillaria gentneri plants suffer from both disease and predation,
reducing their numbers and productivity. Secondary fungal infections
were present to some degree at the Cady Road, Jacksonville Cemetery,
Jackson County Dump, Pelton Road, Placer Hill Drive, and Wagon Trail
Drive sites (Rolle 1988d). Many of the plants that were tagged for seed
collection by Rolle had the capsules eaten by wildlife before the seed
capsules matured (Rolle 1988d)--of the 14 plants tagged at Wagon Trail
Drive, 9 plants had no capsules; at Cady Road, 4 of 4 flagged plants
had the capsules bitten off; at the Jacksonville Cemetery, 6 of 6
flagged plants had no mature capsules found on any part of the plant;
at Pelton Road, 19 of 48 flagged plants were knocked down, eaten, or
did not develop; and at Placer Hill Drive, 1 of 5 flagged plants had
the capsules bitten off.
D. The Inadequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms
In 1963, the protection of Oregon's natural botanical resources was
initiated with the passage of the Oregon Wildflower Law (ORS 564.010-
564.040). This law was designed to protect showy plants such as lilies,
shooting stars, orchids, and rhododendrons from collection by
horticulturists interested in these species' domestication. The law
prohibits the collection of wildflowers from within 60.9 m (200 ft) of
a State highway. The Oregon Wildflower Law carries minimal penalties
and is rarely enforced. As a means of protecting Fritillaria gentneri,
it has minimal effectiveness.
In 1987, Oregon Senate Bill 533 (ORS 564.100) was passed to augment
the legislative actions available for the protection of the State's
threatened and endangered species, both plant and animal. This bill,
known as the Oregon Endangered Species Act, mandated responsibility for
threatened and endangered plant species in Oregon to the ODA. The
Oregon Endangered Species Act directs the ODA to maintain a strong
program to conserve and protect native plant species threatened or
endangered with extinction.
State-listed as endangered, Fritillaria gentneri receives
protection on State-managed lands under the Oregon Endangered Species
Act. Although the ODA is able to regulate the import, export, or
trafficking of State-listed plant species (under ORS 564.120), their
ability to protect plant populations is limited to State-owned or
State-leased lands. Private land owners are not required to protect
State-listed species. As a result, Fritillaria gentneri occurring on
private lands receives no protection from its State status as
endangered. The only sites with this plant that fall under protection
of the Oregon Endangered Species Act are at the Log Town Cemetery on an
Oregon Department of Transportation right-of-way, Southern Oregon
University lands, and lands managed by the City of Jacksonville.
BLM manages lands occupied by Fritillaria gentneri. Although no
conservation agreement has been developed with the BLM that
specifically notes Fritillaria gentneri, the species was given some
protection through a general conservation agreement that applies to all
Federal candidate species. As noted in factor A above, however,
activities on BLM lands threaten the plant.
Fritillaria gentneri is classified by the Oregon Natural Heritage
Program as a G1 category species, which identifies
[[Page 69201]]
this species as one that is threatened with extinction throughout its
entire range. This designation provides recognition but no protection.
There are several other regulations enacted by the State of Oregon
that provide protective measures for federally listed threatened and
endangered species. Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR), Chapter 340,
Division 94 (OAR 340-094-0030) addresses location restrictions for
solid waste and municipal solid waste landfills. OAR Chapter 340,
Division 95 (OAR 340-095-0010) addresses location restrictions for
disposal sites on nonmunicipal land other than municipal solid waste
landfills. Both OAR 340-094-0030 and OAR 340-095-0010 state that no
person shall establish, operate, expand or modify a landfill in a
manner that will cause or contribute to the actual or attempted--(1)
harming collecting, or killing of endangered or threatened species of
plants, fish, or wildlife; (2) direct or indirect alteration of
critical habitat that appreciably diminishes the likelihood of the
survival and recovery of threatened or endangered species using that
habitat. Five of the 45 macro plots (at least 27 plants) of Fritillaria
gentneri would fall under the protective measures of OAR 340-094-0030.
OAR 141-089-0015 General Authorization for Certain Road
Construction Projects provides protective measures by stating road
construction activities (e.g., repairing, widening, replacing,
realigning) shall not adversely affect State or Federal threatened or
endangered species or their critical habitat. The population of
Fritillaria gentneri along State highway 238 is covered by the
protective measures of OAR 141-089-0015.
OAR 635-415-0030 Fish and Wildlife Habitat Mitigation Goals and
Standards provides protection for ``Habitat Category 1.'' ``Habitat
Category 1'' is a State of Oregon classification for habitat that is of
exceptional value for an evaluation species and is irreplaceable and
unique; or that is essential habitat of any State of Oregon listed
threatened or endangered species; or that is the critical habitat as
defined in the Act of any federally listed threatened or endangered
species. OAR 635-415-0030 states that the mitigation goal is no loss of
either habitat units or habitat value and that the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife shall act to protect ``Category 1'' habitats by
recommending or requiring--(1) avoidance of impacts through
alternatives to proposed development action, or (2) no authorization of
the proposed development action if impacts cannot be avoided. Thirty-
two macro plots of Fritillaria gentneri would be protected under this
State law.
Despite being currently State-listed as endangered and coverage
from other State regulations, populations of Fritillaria gentneri on
private lands are still being destroyed. Privately held sites
constitute a significant portion of this species' range and play a
substantial role in its continued existence.
E. Other Natural or Manmade Factors Affecting its Continued Existence.
Fire suppression is causing Fritillaria gentneri's preferred open
oak woodland habitat to become more thickly wooded and less grassy,
excluding the species. At the same time, the increase of homes in the
area makes prescribed burning difficult. According to Rolle (pers.
comm. 1997 ) and Kagan (pers. comm. 1997), Fritillaria gentneri grows
best in forest openings. Closure of the forest canopy will shade the
plants. The forest canopy at the Wagon Trail site is currently being
closed by encroaching Douglas-fir and madrone, threatening the
continued occupancy of this macro plot by its 14 Fritillaria gentneri
plants (Rolle, pers. comm. 1997).
Oak woodland requires a frequent, low-intensity fire management
regime to maintain the open canopy. Southwestern Oregon averages 500
dry lightening strikes a month during drought conditions in the summer,
creating a natural fire frequency of every 12 to 15 years. As the area
developed, 50 to 60 years of fire suppression ensued. This suppression
essentially transformed the traditional oak woodlands with a grassy
understory to oak woodlands with a shrub understory. With the current
trend toward rural development, restoring fire to the habitat has now
become increasingly difficult. Therefore, much of the habitat of
Fritillaria gentneri has not been removed but has changed to densely
closed woodland with a dry shrub understory. Prescribed fire would be a
good tool in managing for Fritillaria gentneri on BLM lands. However,
given that fire suppression will likely continue, the thickening shrub
understories pose a threat to Fritillaria gentneri on both private and
BLM lands.
Another threat to Fritillaria gentneri is the possibility of
decreased vigor and viability due to individual plants being
distributed as separated individuals or in clusters ranging in size
only up to 100 plants. Small numbers increase the risk from random
losses of plants, and small numbers combined with widely separated
individuals increase the risk of random loss of genetic diversity owing
to founder effects or inbreeding. If a population suffers from
inbreeding depression, then its viability may be compromised. The
effects of inbreeding in populations have been used to recommend a
general effective minimal viable population (MVP) of 50 individuals
(Falk and Hoslinger 1991) to maintain genetic diversity. For long-term
evolutionary flexibility, the authors recommend a MVP of 500. That
means that any population below 50 is subject to inbreeding depression
over the short-term and any population under 500 will suffer over the
long-term. Even though the size at which a population begins to face
severe inbreeding depression is still contested, the negative genetic
effects of this phenomenon to a small population of 340 plants become
difficult to ignore. Guerrant (pers. comm. 1997) stated that he sampled
eight clusters of Fritillaria gentneri plants and did not find one
embryo. He stated that the plants are probably sterile. The plant is
largely reproducing asexually, which could be a result of the small
population size.
With only 1 of the 45 sites containing 100 flowering individuals, 4
sites having 11 to 34 flowering individuals, and the remaining 40 sites
having only 10 or fewer flowering individuals of Fritillaria gentneri,
the threat of extinction due to naturally occurring demographic and
environmental events reduces the viability of the species as a whole.
Because most Fritillaria gentneri sites occupy small areas, naturally
occurring environmental events could also play a role in extirpation.
Small clusters can disappear with one environmental event, such as
erosion. The sites are small and isolated from each other due to
habitat fragmentation. This isolation could inhibit re-colonization to
other suitable areas and could result in a permanent loss of localized
occurrences once they fall below a critical level.
Herbicide spraying could extirpate small, localized occurrences
along roadsides. Approximately 29 percent (13) of the plant occurrences
(macro plots) are reported along roadsides and could be affected or
potentially extirpated by spraying or other roadside maintenance
activities. In particular, herbicides could potentially to be used to
control Centaurea solstitialis (yellow star thistle), a noxious weed
that is increasingly abundant in southwestern Oregon, often occurring
on roadsides and brought in on equipment with new housing development
to locations where Fritillaria gentneri occur or could occur (B. Mumblo
in litt. 1998).
In developing this final rule, we have carefully assessed the best
scientific and commercial information available
[[Page 69202]]
regarding the past, present, and future threats faced by this species.
Based on this evaluation, we find that Fritillaria gentneri should be
listed as endangered. This plant is found only in two counties, Jackson
and Josephine, in southwestern Oregon. Habitat loss is the main threat
to this species. Habitat loss due to ongoing or future development may
occur at 42 percent (19) of the central core area's occupied sites.
This taxon is threatened by residential development, agricultural
activities, forestry activities, and road and trail improvement. Other
threats include offroad vehicle use, collecting the species for
gardens, disease, and predation. Small population size and limited
distribution make this taxon particularly vulnerable to extinction from
reduced reproductive vigor or from random environmental events. Because
this taxon is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant
portion of its range, it meets the definition of endangered as defined
by the Act. Therefore, the determination of endangered status for
Fritillaria gentneri (Gentner's fritillary) is appropriate.
Critical Habitat
Critical habitat is defined in section 3(5)(A) of the Act, as
amended, as: (i) the specific areas within the geographical area
occupied by a species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the
provisions of section 4 of the Act, on which are found those physical
or biological features (I) essential to the conservation of the species
and (II) that may require special management considerations or
protection; and (ii) specific areas outside the geographical area
occupied by a species at the time it is listed, upon a determination
that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species.
``Conservation'' means the use of all methods and procedures that are
necessary to bring the species to the point at which the measures
provided pursuant to the Act are no longer necessary.
We are not at this time making a critical habitat determination for
Fritillaria gentneri. The Final Listing Priority Guidance for FY 2000
(64 FR 57114) states, that the processing of critical habitat
determinations (prudency and determinability decisions) and proposed or
final designations of critical habitat ``will no longer be subject to
prioritization under Listing Priority Guidance. Critical habitat
determinations, which were previously included in final listing rules
published in the Federal Register, may now be processed separately, in
which case stand-alone critical habitat determinations will be
published as notices in the Federal Register. We will undertake
critical habitat determinations and designations during FY 2000 as
allowed by our funding allocation for that year.'' As explained in
detail in the Listing Priority Guidance, our listing budget is
currently insufficient to allow us to immediately complete all of the
listing actions required by the Act. Deferral of the critical habitat
determination for Fritillaria gentneri will allow us to concentrate our
limited resources on higher priority critical habitat and other listing
actions, while allowing us to put in place protections needed for the
conservation of Fritillaria gentneri without further delay. The
proposed critical habitat determination for Fritillaria gentneri will
be published in the Federal Register subsequent to this final rule.
Available Conservation Measures
Conservation measures provided to species listed as endangered or
threatened under the Act include recognition, recovery actions,
requirements for Federal protection, and prohibitions against certain
activities. Recognition through listing encourages and results in
conservation actions by Federal, State, and local agencies, private
organizations, and individuals. The Act provides for possible land
acquisition and cooperation with the States and requires that recovery
actions be carried out for all listed species. The protection required
of Federal agencies and the prohibitions against taking and harm of
animals and certain activities involving listed plants are discussed,
in part, below.
Section 7(a) of the Act, as amended, requires Federal agencies to
evaluate their actions with respect to any species that is listed as
endangered or threatened and with respect to its critical habitat, if
any is designated. Regulations implementing this interagency
cooperation provision of the Act are codified at 50 CFR Part 402.
Section 7(a)(2) requires Federal agencies to ensure that activities
they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of such a species or to destroy or adversely modify
its critical habitat. If a Federal action may affect a listed species
or its critical habitat, the responsible Federal agency must enter into
consultation with us. The principal Federal agency expected to have
involvement with Fritillaria gentneri is the BLM, which manages many of
the sites where this species occurs.
The Act and its implementing regulations set forth a series of
general prohibitions and exceptions that apply to all endangered
plants. All prohibitions of Section 9(a)(2) of the Act, implemented by
50 CFR 17.61 for endangered plants, apply. These prohibitions, in part,
make it illegal for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States to import or export, transport in interstate or foreign
commerce in the course of a commercial activity, sell or offer for sale
in interstate or foreign commerce, or remove and reduce the species to
possession from areas under Federal jurisdiction. In addition, the Act
prohibits malicious damage or destruction of endangered plants on
Federal lands or the removal, cutting, digging up, damaging, or
destroying of such plants in knowing violation of any State law or
regulation, including criminal trespass law. Certain exceptions to the
prohibitions apply to agents of the Service and State conservation
agencies.
The Act and 50 CFR 17.62 and 17.63 for endangered plants also
provide for the issuance of permits to carry out otherwise prohibited
activities involving endangered plants under certain circumstances.
Such permits are available for scientific purposes and to enhance the
propagation or survival of the species. We anticipated that few trade
permits would ever be sought or issued for Fritillaria gentneri because
the species is not common in cultivation or in the wild.
Our policy, published in the Federal Register (59 FR 34272) on July
1, 1994, is to identify to the maximum extent practicable when a
species is listed those activities that would or would not be a
violation of section 9 of the Act. Such information clarifies the
potential impacts of a species' listing on activities within its range.
We believe that, based on the best information available at this
time, the following actions will not likely result in a violation of
section 9, provided these activities are carried out in accordance with
existing laws and regulations, including State laws and regulations,
and permit requirements:
(1) Activities authorized, funded, or carried out by Federal
agencies (e.g., grazing management, agricultural conversions, flood and
erosion control, residential development, recreational trail
development, road construction, hazardous material containment and
cleanup activities, prescribed burns, pesticide/herbicide application,
construction or maintenance of pipelines or utility lines), when
conducted in accordance with any consultation under section 7 of the
Act;
(2) Casual, dispersed human activities on foot or horseback (e.g.,
birding,
[[Page 69203]]
sightseeing, photography, camping, or hiking);
(3) Activities on private lands that do not require Federal
authorization and do not involve Federal funding, such as grazing
management, agricultural conversions, flood and erosion control,
residential development, road construction, and pesticide/herbicide
application when consistent with label restrictions;
(4) Residential landscape maintenance, including the clearing of
vegetation around one's personal residence as a firebreak.
We believe that the following might potentially result in a
violation of section 9; however, possible violations are not limited to
these actions alone:
(1) Collection, damage, or destruction of Fritillaria gentneri on
Federal lands without a Federal permit. Fritillaria gentneri occurs on
BLM lands.
(2) Collection, damage, or destruction of this species on non-
Federal land if conducted in knowing violation of Oregon State law or
regulations, or in violation of Oregon State criminal trespass law. The
Oregon State Endangered Species Act protects Fritillaria gentneri on
State lands or rights-of-way and also prohibits import, export, or
trafficking of this species.
(3) Interstate or foreign commerce and import or export without
previously obtaining an appropriate permit. Permits are available for
purposes of scientific research and enhancement or survival of the
species.
Questions regarding whether specific activities will violate
section 9 of the Act should be directed to the Field Supervisor of our
Oregon State Office (see ADDRESSES section). Requests for copies of the
regulations for listed plants and inquiries about prohibitions and
permits may be addressed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Ecological Services, Permits Branch, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland,
Oregon 97232-4181 (telephone 503/231-2063; facsimile 503/231-6243).
National Environmental Policy Act
We have determined that we do not need to prepare Environmental
Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements, as defined under the
authority of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, in
connection with regulations adopted pursuant to section 4(a) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We published a notice
outlining our reasons for this determination in the Federal Register on
October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244).
Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule does not contain any information collection requirements
for which Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval is required
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). An
information collection related to the rule pertaining to permits for
endangered and threatened species has OMB approval and is assigned
clearance number 1018-0094. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. This rule does
not alter that information collection requirement.
References
A complete list of all references cited in this rule, as well as
others, is available upon request from our Oregon Fish and Wildlife
Office (see ADDRESSES section).
Author. The primary author of this final rule is Andrew F. Robinson
Jr., botanist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Fish and Wildlife
Office (see ADDRESSES section).
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.
Final Regulation Promulgation
For the reasons outlined in the preamble, we amend part 17,
subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
as set forth below:
PART 17--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C.
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500, unless otherwise noted.
2. Amend Sec. 17.12(h) by adding the following, in alphabetical
order under FLOWERING PLANTS, to the List of Endangered and Threatened
Plants:
Sec. 17.12 Endangered and threatened plants.
* * * * *
(h) * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species
-------------------------------------------------------- Historic range Family Status When listed Critical Special
Scientific name Common name habitat rules
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FLOWERING PLANTS
* * * * * * *
Fritillaria gentneri............. Gentner's fritillary U.S.A. (OR)........ Liliaceae.......... E 672 NA NA
* * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: November 2, 1999.
Jamie Rappaport Clark,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 99-32021 Filed 12-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P