BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Mertensia paniculata var. borealis
tall bluebells
| Scientific Name: | Mertensia paniculata var. borealis |
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| English Name: | tall bluebells |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S3S4 |
| Date Status Assigned: | March 31, 2018 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | March 31, 2018 |
| Reasons: | Limited number of extant occurrences (ca.sixteen), restricted range, and uncertain level of protection (though threats probably widespread but not serious). Given all this, habitat is still relatively abundant and more populations are expected. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | D = 1,000-5,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | The estimated extent of occupancy for Mertensia paniculata var. borealis, calculated using GIS tools, is 2,050 square kilometres. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | EF = 26-500 |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: | The area of occupancy for Mertensia paniculata var. borealis is 60 square kilometres, using a 2km x 2km square grid. |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | B = 6 - 20 |
| Comments: | About 16 element occurrences are known. Potential habitat for this species, (i.e. wet to mesic meadows, streambanks and open forests in the montane, subalpine and alpine zones) is abundant and additional populations almost certainly occur. |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | C = 4 - 12 |
| Comments: |
The viability of all occurrences has not yet been assessed, but there are probably many with good viability. |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | B = 1 - 3 |
| Comments: | At least 2 occurrences are protected within a provincial park. |
| Population Size: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | The number of plants has not been reported for any occurrences. |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | Widespread, low-severity threat |
| Comments: | Habitat fragmentation, degradation and invasive species represent the main threats to Mertensia paniculata var. borealis in B.C. Flooding from hydroelectric reservoirs has eliminated significant stands of deciduous forests within the Columbia Basin. Remaining stands may be at risk from other more subtle threats such as alteration of natural disturbance patterns by fire suppression, intensive forest management and lack of periodic flooding. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | Population and habitat trends are unknown. |
| Long-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: |
There is insufficient information available to determine long-term trends. |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | U=Unknown |
| Comments: | Information on dispersal, germination, seedling establishment and regeneration is unavailable for this subspecies. However, a related subspecies, Mertensia paniculata var. paniculata, regenerates mostly vegetatively, from ramets that typically remain tightly clustered around the parent plant, possibly limiting clonal spreading, though sprouting from rhizomes has also been described (Morris 1996, Hicks 2000). In B.C., M. paniculata var. paniculata shows some resistance to disturbance as percent cover increased on sites that were disked and then sprayed with glyphosate compared to sites that were just disked. On undisked sites, percent cover was lower on the sprayed site than the site with no treatment (Biring et al. 1999). |
| Environmental Specificity: | C=Moderate. Generalist or community with some key requirements scarce. |
| Comments: |
Information on site preferences is unavailable for this subspecies, but the habitats where it is found, such as wet to mesic meadows, streambanks and open forests in the montane, subalpine and alpine zones, are relatively abundant in southeastern B.C. and additional populations almost certainly occur. |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: |
Ongoing research and monitoring of population status, biology, critical habitat and threats. |
| Inventory Needs: | Reported sites should be revisited to assess the size, area occupied and viability of populations. |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: |
Species-specific management within protected areas is needed. |
| Management: | |
| Version | |
| Author: | M. Donovan, and J.L. Penny |
| Date: | May 21, 2009 |
| References | |
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Batten, R. 2018. Vascular plant GeoCAT range extent and index of AOO maps supporting status assessment 2017_18 for British Columbia Conservation Data Centre. March 2018. Victoria, BC. 450 pp.
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Biring, B. S.; Hays-Byl, W. J.; Hoyles, S. E. 1999. Twelve-year conifer and vegetation responses to discing and glyphosate treatments on a BWBSmw backlog site. Working Paper 43. Victoria, BC: British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Research Branch. 34 p.
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British Columbia Conservation Data Centre. Botany Program. 2000. Database containing records of rare plant collections and observations in the province of British Columbia.
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Hicks, Samantha; Turkington, Roy. 2000. Compensatory growth of three herbaceous perennial species: the effects of clipping and nutrient availability. Canadian Journal of Botany. 78(6): 759-767. [64243]
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Morris, William F. 1996. Mutualism denied? Nectar-robbing bumble bees do not reduce female or male success of bluebells. Ecology. 77(5): 1451-1462.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2009. Conservation Status Report: Mertensia paniculata var. borealis. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 7, 2026).