Isoetes salishensis D.F.Brunt. (2024:122)

Salish quillwort

Taxonomy & Nomenclature

Conservation Status

Globally Rediscovered (Brunton et al., 2025)

Last record: March-May 1979 (Brunton & Sokoloff, 2024:112,122)

Rediscovered on: 1 July 2022 (photograph); 2 June 2024 (confirmation) (both Brunton et al., 2025:74)

The species was described based upon material collected in the late 1970's (i.e. 1977 and 1979) from Mitlenatch Island (Brunton & Sokoloff, 2024). Subsequently, material collected in 1887 from Vancouver Island which accords well with I. salishensis was retrospectively discovered (Brunton et al., 2025), but these two populations were destroyed by urban expansion (Vancouver Island population) and habitat degradation/browsing impact from a nearby breeding population of Glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens) (Mitlenatch Island) (Ibid.). Then on 1 July 2022 a photographic observation of apparent I. nuttallii was uploaded to iNaturalist, which two years later was determined to belong to the then newly described but long unrecorded I. salishensis when fresh material could be examined by experts (Brunton et al., 2025).

Distribution & Habitat

British Columbia, Canada

Anatomy & Morphology

Biology & Ecology

Hypodigm

Media

References

Original scientific description:

Brunton, Daniel F. and Sokoloff, Paul C. (2024). Isoetes salishensis, sp. nov. (Isoetaceae - Lycopodiopsida), An Endemic Quillwort of Coastal British Columbia, Canada. American Fern Journal 114(2): 111-126. https://doi.org/10.1640/0002-8444-114.2.111

Other references:

Brunton, Daniel F., Batten, Ryan and Sokoloff, Paul C. (2025). Discovery of an Extant Population of Isoetes salishensis. American Fern Journal 115(1): 74-76. https://doi.org/10.1640/0002-8444-115.1.74

Brunton, Daniel F., Kartesz, J. T., Nishino, M. and Sokoloff, P. C. (2025). A conspectus of the North American Isoetaceae: 1-112. BRIT PRESS.

POWO. (2026). Plants of the World Online (online resource). Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/ [Accessed 14 August 2026]

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