1997 Introduction
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This first edition of the guide provides a summary of 173 rare plant species
known to occur in Colorado, including all listed threatened and endangered plant
species, all species formerly recognized by the USFWS as category 1 and category
2 candidates for federal listing (USFWS 1993b), and all plant species listed by
the BLM (BLM 1990a) and the USFS (USFS 1994) as sensitive. For each species, information
is presented on nomenclature, look-alike species, phenology, distribution, habitat,
and references. Photographs of the rare plants and their habitats are included,
as well as technical botanical illustrations showing distinguishing characteristics.
We also present tables that show species distributions according to USFS, BLM, and
National Park Service (NPS) boundaries. The guide is arranged in a three ring binder,
with each page, front and back, devoted to just one species. This format was chosen
to facilitate future updates to the guide, and to allow users to organize the species
in the guide in a way they find most useful.
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Data acquired over more than fifteen years by the Colorado Natural Areas Program
(CNAP), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP),
and numerous individuals through field research, herbarium research, published floras,
and scientific literature were used to produce the species accounts. As new information
on rare, threatened, and endangered species is acquired, these data should be submitted
to CNHP at Colorado State University. The Colorado Natural Heritage Program serves
as the central repository for information on rare species and natural communities
in the state, and welcomes all editorial comments on the guide.
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We’ve added 31 new species profiles (May 2017)! New profiles can be viewed by clicking on the species name on the
Master List page.
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Your contribution, no matter how small, will help us update the remaining profiles and add the
rest of our tracked species. Click here
to support us, and indicate under “Comments” that your gift is to support the rare plant guide.