Kincaid’s Lupine – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Photo Credit: Oregon Department of Agriculture

Overview

Species Common Name Kincaid's Lupine
Species Scientific Name Lupinus oreganus
Federal Listing Status Threatened
State Listing Status Threatened

Ecoregions

Klamath Mountains

The Klamath Mountains ecoregion covers much of southwestern Oregon, including the Umpqua Mountains, Siskiyou Mountains, and interior valleys and foothills between these and the Cascade Range. The Rogue watershed has the largest population of any coastal watershed in Oregon (Jackson County, Josephine County, and a portion of Curry County). Several popular and scenic rivers run …

Willamette Valley

The Willamette Valley ecoregion is bounded on the west by the Coast Range and on the east by the Cascade Range. This long mostly level alluvial plain has some scattered areas of low basalt, and contrasts with productive farmland and large urban areas. It has the fastest-growing human population in the state resulting in challenges due to land-use changes.

Special needs

Kincaid's lupine occurs in seasonally-wet native prairies.

Limiting factors

Habitat loss due to agricultural and urban development is a major threat to Kincaid's lupine. Invasive plants, elimination of disturbance regimes (e.g., flooding, fire), and road construction and maintenance adversely affect remnant prairie habitat. Inbreeding depression in small populations is a further risk factor.

Data gaps

Determine causes for low seed production at higher-elevation sites. Investigate potential polyploidy.

Conservation actions

Restore prairie habitat using site-appropriate tools (e.g., burning, mechanical removal of encroaching vegetation). Develop seed production fields for each recovery zone. Conduct long-term demographic monitoring. Conduct surveys of potential habitat to locate new populations. Limit impacts from road construction/maintenance at occupied sites.

Key reference or plan

Oregon Department of Agriculture Plant Conservation