With a smooth even surface, this winter annual,
or biennial, becomes fibrous-rooted.
It stands 30-120 cm tall with rather scanty foliage.
Distribution
Map
Red dots indicate specimen records or confirmed breeding sites.
British Columbia
In British Columbia, Atkinson's Coreopsis is found only in the extreme
southern parts of the Okanagan Highland (Osoyoos) and west Kootenay Valleys
- Columbia River Valley (Waneta, Remack).
North Amercia
Outside of British Columbia, Atkinson's Coreopsis is found along the Columbia
River from Portland, Oregon, northeast into British Columbia; along the
Okanogan River to the International Boundary; and east into Idaho and
Montana along the Spokane and Clark's Fork rivers. It grows on the plains,
apparently native, from Saskatchewan to South Dakota, and variously introduced
elsewhere in the United States.
Habitat
The preferred habitat of Atkinson's Coreopsis includes moist riverbanks
and lakeshores, meadows, vernal pools. It is also found on sandy benches
by freshwater lakes and rivers.
Why is it endangered?
This species along with others of the grasslands communities are endangered
for a number of reasons. Livestock grazing, range re-seeding and off-road
recreation have modified much of the remaining "undeveloped"
grassland areas. In addition, cultivation, agricultural and urban development,
prescribed burning, forest encroachment, road and trail development, alien
plant and animal species introductions, and hydro-electric power projects
have caused outright, irreversible losses of native grassland species
in general.
Because grasslands have been so influenced by human activities, a relatively
large number of wildlife species associated with grasslands (including
this plant species) are listed as threatened or endangered. Because of
these combined influences and the relatively limited distribution of grasslands,
"ancient" grasslands represent a much more endangered space
in British Columbia than do "ancient" or old-growth forests.
Biology
Atkinson's Coreopsis blooms from June to September
Sources for more information
Related On-line Sites to Visit
Publications
The SOCAP Workshop Summary, The Nature Trust, 1989.
The Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock et al, 1971
Museum Specimens
Industry Canada