Rare Species Guide

  Basis for Former Listing

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry) is native to prairie and prairie-like habitats in the central and eastern United States, which may or may not include Minnesota. Although several regional plant manuals report this species from Minnesota (Fernald 1950; Great Plains Flora Association 1986), none provide supporting documentation. Other sources are more equivocal; for example, Ownbey and Morley (1991) say "possibly present in the state only by introduction from farther east or south". Smith (2008) is even more doubtful, stating "... there is no strong evidence that it is either native or naturalized in Minnesota". As of 2010, there are no known voucher specimens of S. orbiculatus in any Minnesota herbarium that were definitively collected from a native Minnesota population (the 1979 Houston County specimen is believed to be from an introduced population). Symphoricarpos orbiculatus was listed as a special concern species in Minnesota in 1984.

  Basis for Delisting

Because there is no evidence that this species is native to or naturalized in Minnesota, special concern status is not appropriate. Symphoricarpos orbiculatus was delisted in 2013.

  References and Additional Information

Fernald, M. L. 1950. Gray's manual of botany. Eighth edition. American Book Company, New York, New York. 1632 pp.

Hidayatl, S. N., J. M. Baskin, and C. C. Baskin. 2001. Dormancy-breaking and germination requirements for seeds of Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (Caprifoliaceae). American Journal of Botany 88(8):1444-1451.

Jones, G. N. 1940. A monograph of the genus Symphoricarpos. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 21(2):201-252.

Ownbey, G. B., and T. Morley. 1991. Vascular plants of Minnesota: a checklist and atlas. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 320 pp.

Smith, W. R. 2008. Trees and shrubs of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 703 pp.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2012. Statement of need and reasonableness. Division of Ecological and Water Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul. 337 pp.

Stephens, H. A. 1973. Woody plants of the North Central Plains. The University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 530 pp.

The Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence. 1,402 pp.