common name(s):
McDonald’s rock cress, Red Mountain rock cress
description:
This flowering plant is of the mustard family and is commonly known as the MacDonald’s rockcress. They are native to northern California and Oregon, thriving in exposed, barren soils and in temperate coniferous forest habitats. They are in widely endangered due to their short blooming seasons, as well as harmful mining practices in their natural habitats during the 20th century.
distribution/location:
California, Oregon, United Kingdom, temperate coniferous forests
environmental concern(s):
Mining poses the biggest environmental threat to these flowering plants because their natural habitats in metal-rich areas are being dug up and changed. Road maintenance, construction, over-collection, and overall urbanization patterns most contribute to the near-extinction of this species
Source(s):
https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.132067/Arabis_mcdonaldiana
Personal thoughts:
this is a beautiful flowering plant that has an extremely fragrant scent and is also edible! habitat destruction and runoff contamination due to urbanization not only affect animals but also producers that will harm the entire trophic cascade!!!!
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