False-rue anemone COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 2

Executive Summary

False Rue-anemone
Enemion Biternatum

Species information

False rue-anemone is a spring-flowering herbaceous perennial. The flowers are small and delicate, with 5 white petal-like sepals, surrounding a cluster of stamens with yellow anthers. The species grows to about 40 cm tall. Although its roots are shallow and slender, they are tough and hardy -- sometimes to the extent of maintaining green leaves all winter. The thin leaves are mostly divided into three segments, each of which may be divided into three leaflets that are usually olive green in colour. The white flowers of false rue-anemone are among the earliest to open in spring, starting in April and extending through to early June.

Distribution

False rue-anemone occurs in Canada and the United States. This species is generally common throughout its main range but is quite rare at the northern and western edges of its range. In Canada, it occurs as scattered populations in southwestern Ontario. 

Habitat

This species inhabits open wooded slopes, river floodplains, rich woods and thickets.

Biology

In Canada, false rue-anemone flowers from April to early June, and bears fruit from May to June. Insects are the main pollinators. The seeds germinate in the autumn.

Population sizes and trends

In the ten years since the last status report, one historical population of false rue-anemone has been relocated. No new populations have been discovered. Six populations are currently extant with about one million flowering shoots.

Limiting factors and threats

In Canada, several populations of false rue-anemone are threatened by all terrain vehicle use, soil compaction, and trampling, due to their proximity to public areas and trails. Loss of habitat due to invasion of exotic grasses and other invasive plants, wood-cutting operations, soil erosion, and agricultural activities also pose a threat to Canadian populations of false rue-anemone. Spraying of herbicides and pesticides is also occurring to the detriment of these plants. Road salting may be a limiting factor for at least one Canadian population of false rue-anemone.

Special significance of the species

The species has been promoted as a valuable horticultural addition to woodland gardens.

Existing protection

False rue-anemone was first designated in 1990 as Special Concern in Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. This species has an S2 rank in Ontario (imperiled), a National rank of N2 (imperiled) in Canada, and a Global rank of G5 (demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure). The species is now officially listed in Ontario as Special Concern under the recently approved Species At Risk in Ontario (SARO) list. The species has likely been extirpated from New York and South Dakota, is listed as Endangered in Florida, and as a species of Regional Concern in South Carolina. This species is not listed under the federal Endangered Species Act in the United States.

A part of the Medway Creek population is on land owned by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. The Ausable River Valley population is in an ANSI (Area of Natural and Scientific Interest). The Parkhill population is located in a conservation area owned by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. The remaining populations are located on private land. Presence in an ANSI or a conservation area does not in itself confer protection unless specific management plans are in effect for the species.

COSEWIC History

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) was created in 1977 as a result of a recommendation at the Federal-Provincial Wildlife Conference held in 1976. It arose from the need for a single, official, scientifically sound, national listing of wildlife species at risk. In 1978, COSEWIC designated its first species and produced its first list of Canadian species at risk. Species designated at meetings of the full committee are added to the list. On June 5, 2003, the Species at Risk Act (SARA) was proclaimed. SARA establishes COSEWIC as an advisory body ensuring that species will continue to be assessed under a rigorous and independent scientific process.

COSEWIC Mandate

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assesses the national status of wild species, subspecies, varieties, or other designatable units that are considered to be at risk in Canada. Designations are made on native species for the following taxonomic groups: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, arthropods, molluscs, vascular plants, mosses, and lichens.

COSEWIC Membership

COSEWIC comprises members from each provincial and territorial government wildlife agency, four federal agencies (Canadian Wildlife Service, Parks Canada Agency, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Federal Biodiversity Information Partnership, chaired by the Canadian Museum of Nature), three non-government members and the co-chairs of the species specialist and the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge subcommittees. The Committee meets to consider status reports on candidate species.

Definitions (November 2004)

Wildlife Species

A species, subspecies, variety, or geographically or genetically distinct population of animal, plant or other organism, other than a bacterium or virus, that is wild by nature and it is either native to Canada or has extended its range into Canada without human intervention and has been present in Canada for at least 50 years.

Extinct (X)

A wildlife species that no longer exists.

Extirpated (XT)

A wildlife species no longer existing in the wild in Canada, but occurring elsewhere.

Endangered (E)

A wildlife species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.

Threatened (T)

A wildlife species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.

Special Concern (SC) Footnotea

A wildlife species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.

Not at Risk (NAR) Footnoteb

A wildlife species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk of extinction given the current circumstances.

Data Deficient (DD) Footnotec

A wildlife species for which there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction.

 

Canadian Wildlife Service

The Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, provides full administrative and financial support to the COSEWIC Secretariat.

 

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