Lakeside daisy (Hymenoxys herbacea) COSEWIC assessment and update update status report: chapter 9
Special Significance of the Species
The Canadian populations, consisting of 38 extant populations, out of 39 documented populations, constitute about 95% of the populations existing in the world today. In the U.S., the only other country where H. herbacea grows, it is considered federally threatened and occurs at only two sites. Hymenoxys herbacea is one of very few plant species with most of its global populations in Canada.
This plant is a community dominant in many areas in which it occurs (De Mauro, 1993). The species occurs predominantly in alvars, a globally rare community type (Brownell and Riley, 2000), where it frequently associates with other globally and provincially rare species. Its pollen supports a large group of insect visitors early in the spring when other food sources are limited (Campbell, 2001).
Its locations, found in cottage country, support eco-tourism, one of North America’s fastest growing recreational activities.
The species is grown as an ornamental, and roots easily from cuttings, it is most commonly listed in the nursery trade under an older synonym Actinea herbacea (D. Fraser, pers. comm. 2002).
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