Hooker's balsamroot is found throughout much of the Intermountain West, from eastern and central Washington, south to the Cascade Range/Shasta Valley of northern California, west-central and southern Idaho, southwestern Wyoming, northwestern Colorado, much of Utah and Nevada, and the northwestern corner of Arizona [7,9,11,17,21,25,44]. Although Hitchcock and Cronquist [22] suggested that it does not occur in Oregon, Culver [10] indicated that Hooker's balsamroot may be found in southeastern Oregon. Plants Database provides a state distribution map of Hooker's balsamroot and its infrataxa.
Quinney [32] suggested that Hooker's balsamroot and arrowleaf balsamroot were both abundant in presettlement sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)-grasslands of the Snake River Plain in southwestern Idaho. They have since become rare due to overgrazing, nonnative plant invasions, and altered FIRE REGIMES [32].
Fire adaptations: As of this writing (2006) there are no published accounts detailing Hooker's balsamroot fire adaptations.
Arrowleaf balsamroot sprouts from the caudex following fire damage, and it is likely that Hooker's balsamroot does the same. It is also possible that Hooker's balsamroot colonizes postfire habitats by seed. However, as of this writing (2006) there is not enough published information about Hooker's balsamroot seed biology to even speculate about postfire seedling establishment (see Regeneration Processes). More research is needed to help understand the fire adaptations of Hooker's balsamroot.
FIRE REGIMES: As of this writing (2006), there is very little published information describing interactions between Hooker's balsamroot and specific FIRE REGIMES. Goodrich and Huber [16] noted that Hooker's balsamroot was frequently found within experimental plots in mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. vaseyana) communities on lower slopes of the Uinta Mountains in Utah. While neither the extent of prescribed burning nor the preexisting fire history within the study area were described in detail, it was mentioned that fire frequency in these units was historically "rather high." Further, on one site that was burned 2 years prior to measurement, sampled Hooker's balsamroot frequency was 89% [16]. More research is needed to provide a clearer understanding of the relationships between Hooker's balsamroot occurrence and various fire regime characteristics.
The following table provides fire return intervals for plant communities and ecosystems where Hooker's balsamroot might occur. Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under "Find FIRE REGIMES".
Community or ecosystem Dominant species Fire return interval range (years) silver sagebrush steppe Artemisia cana 5-45 [20,33,47] sagebrush steppe Artemisia tridentata/Pseudoroegneria spicata 20-70 [30] basin big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. tridentata 12-43 [35] mountain big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana 15-40 [4,8,29] Wyoming big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis 10-70 ( x=40) [42,48] saltbush-greasewood Atriplex confertifolia-Sarcobatus vermiculatus 30,49] cheatgrass Bromus tectorum 31,45] blackbrush Coleogyne ramosissima <35 to <100 [30] western juniper Juniperus occidentalis 20-70 [30] Rocky Mountain juniper Juniperus scopulorum <35 [30] wheatgrass plains grasslands Pascopyrum smithii <5-47+ [30,33,47] pinyon-juniper Pinus-Juniperus spp. <35 [30] Colorado pinyon Pinus edulis 10-400+ [14,18,26,30] Pacific ponderosa pine* Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa 1-47 [3] interior ponderosa pine* Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum 2-30 [3,5,28] mountain grasslands Pseudoroegneria spicata 3-40 ( x=10) [2,3] *fire return interval varies widely; trends in variation are noted in the species reviewBiogeographic: Throughout its range of distribution in the Intermountain West, Hooker's balsamroot may be found within a variety of dry woodland, shrubland, and grassland habitats (see Distribution and Occurrence) [9,17,21,40]. Stevens and Monsen [37] suggested that it does not occur in dense patches, but is scattered and intermixed with other herbs, usually within a shrubby understory.
Climatic: According to Plants Database [41], annual precipitation requirements for Hooker's balsamroot are between 9 and 20 inches (230-510 mm), minimum temperature tolerated is -18 °F (-28 °C), and minimum frost-free days are 120.
Edaphic/physiographic: Physical descriptions of Hooker's balsamroot sites typically cite dry, open, and rocky or gravelly conditions, both on hillsides and flats [9,19,40]. Hooker's balsamroot occurs mainly in foothills and lowlands [9], but reported elevations range from 2,600 feet (800 m) in northern California [21] to 9,500 feet (2,900 m) on Wheeler Peak in Nevada [9]. According to Plants Database [41], Hooker's balsamroot is adapted to a wide range of soil textures; its drought tolerance, calcium carbonate tolerance, and salinity tolerance are all "medium"; its fertility requirement is "low"; and it grows on soils with a pH range of 6.6 to 9.0. A review by Stevens and Monsen [37] suggested it is not tolerant (1 on a scale of 1-5) of flooding.
Hooker's balsamroot has some forage value for livestock, at least seasonally. Hermann [19] suggested it "provides good livestock forage." Stevens and Monsen [37] rated Hooker's balsamroot grazing tolerance and forage yield both as "good." The U.S. Department of Agriculture Range Handbook [40] indicates that cattle, horses, and domestic sheep graze the foliage "lightly and often eat the flowers." Forage value diminishes by summer due to senescence [40].
As of this writing (2006) there is no information concerning the importance of Hooker's balsamroot for wildlife.
Palatability/nutritional value: A review by Stevens and Monsen [37] indicates that Hooker's balsamroot palatability is excellent in early spring, but poor by summer.
The following table provides data on average mineral composition of dried aboveground Hooker's balsamroot tissue sampled in late June and July from 25 study sites in central and northern Utah [46].
K (%) Na (%) Ca (%) Mg (%) Cu (ppm) Zn (ppm) 5.10 0.10 0.47 0.62 13 28Cover value: No information is available on this topic.
As of this writing (2006) information concerning the response of Hooker's balsamroot to fire is limited and conflicting. Goodrich and Huber [16] provided limited evidence suggesting it may have some capacity to recover following fire (see FIRE REGIMES). However, evidence from a postfire vegetation survey by Stucker and Peek [39] on the 1979 Ship Island Burn in the Middle Fork Salmon River drainage, central Idaho, suggests that Hooker's balsamroot postfire response may be slower than is suggested above. It was among the few perennial forbs to show a decrease in canopy coverage on burned sites. Three years after the fire Hooker's balsamroot cover was still significantly (p<0.05) reduced in burned plots compared with paired unburned plots [39].
Arrowleaf balsamroot sprouts from the caudex following fire damage, and it is likely that Hooker's balsamroot does the same. More research is needed to help understand the immediate effects on, as well as postfire responses of, Hooker's balsamroot.
Balsamroots (Balsamorhiza spp.) are perennial herbs that regenerate in the spring from a caudex [12,43]. They also produce new plants by seeds [41]. As of this writing (2006) details concerning Hooker's balsamroot regeneration processes are sparse in the literature.
Pollination: No information is available on this topic.
Breeding system: No information is available on this topic.
Seed production: Plants Database [41] indicates "fruit/seed abundance" is "medium."
Seed dispersal: Plants Database [41] indicates seed spread rate is "slow."
Seed banking: No information is available on this topic.
Germination: No information is available on this topic.
Seedling establishment/growth: A review by Stevens and Monsen [37] suggests that initial establishment is difficult and seedling growth is slow, although once established, Hooker's balsamroot persistence is high. Plants Database [41] indicates seedling vigor is "medium."
Asexual regeneration: Hooker's balsamroot does not appear to spread vegetatively [41]; however, it probably sprouts from the caudex following top-kill.
The scientific name of Hooker's balsamroot is Balsamorhiza hookeri (Hook.)
Nutt. (Asteraceae) [9,17,21,22,23,24,25,44]. Several varieties of Hooker's balsamroot are recognized throughout its
range. These varieties may intergrade where their occurrence is
proximate [9,22,25].
Balsamorhiza hookeri var. hirsuta (Nutt.) Nelson [9,24,25]
Balsamorhiza hookeri var. hispidula (Sharp) Cronq. [9,17,22,23,24,25,44]
Balsamorhiza hookeri var. hookeri [22,23,24]
Balsamorhiza hookeri var. idahoensis (Sharp) Cronq. [9,22,24]
Balsamorhiza hookeri var. lagocephala (Sharp) Cronq. [22,24]
Balsamorhiza hookeri var. neglecta (Sharp) Cronq. [9,17,23,24,25,44]
Balsamorhiza hookeri var. platylepis (Sharp) Cronq. [9]
Balsamorhiza hookeri var. neglecta may hybridize with
arrowleaf balsamroot (B. sagittata) [17].
