Botanist Naomi Fraga of the California Botanic Garden has successfully located seeds from the rare Death Valley sage, marking the first successful discovery since 2009. This achievement follows over 15 years of efforts by Fraga to collect the seeds for preservation in a native California seed vault. The discovery occurred in late March amidst a significant desert bloom.
This marks the first successful collection of Death Valley sage seeds since 2009, an achievement following over 15 years of dedicated efforts by Botanist Naomi Fraga.
Background on the Conservation Effort
Naomi Fraga, a botanist with the California Botanic Garden, has been attempting to collect seeds from the Death Valley sage for more than 15 years. The objective of these efforts is to secure seeds for storage in a vault dedicated to native California seeds. Previous collection attempts by Fraga had not yielded seeds.
Plant Characteristics and Collection Challenges
The Death Valley sage is characterized by silvery-green pointy leaves, fuzzy buds, and deep purple flowers. Studying and collecting samples from the plant presents logistical challenges, often requiring hiking or driving on remote roads to access mountainside locations. Limited information is available regarding the plant's pollinator. Additionally, the plant does not flower or produce seeds during exceptionally dry years.
Recent Discovery
In late March, Fraga located the seeds in the foothills of the Nopah Range, near an abandoned mine. This area is home to one of the largest known populations of the sage. The successful discovery is attributed to a significant desert bloom this year, which created favorable conditions for seed production, marking the first such collection since 2009.
Future Plans
Fraga plans to return to the site with a team to conduct the first substantial, large-scale harvest of Death Valley sage seeds.
Conservation and Environmental Factors
The sage's habitat is largely protected within Death Valley National Park. However, climate change is identified as an ongoing factor that could intensify existing challenges for these plants. This could potentially make future seed collection more difficult and pose a threat to the species.