''Frasera gypsicola'' is a species of flowering plant in the

gentian family Gentianaceae is a family of flowering plants of 105 genera and about 1600 species. Etymology The family takes its name from the genus ''Gentiana'', named after the Illyrian king Gentius. Distribution Distribution is cosmopolitan. Characteristi ...

known by the common names Sunnyside green-gentian, Sunnyside elkweed, and Sunnyside frasera. It is native to southeastern

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

and southwestern

Utah Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...

in the United States.''Frasera gypsicola''.
The Nature Conservancy.''Frasera gypsicola''.
Center for Plant Conservation. This perennial herb has a mound of basal grasslike leaves and stems up to 20 centimeters tall. The flowers are white with a green base and purple mottling. Flowering occurs in June and July. It is easily told from '' Frasera albomarginata'', which may grow with it.Smith, F. J
Current knowledge and conservation status of ''Frasera gypsicola'' Barneby (Gentianaceae), the Sunnyside green gentian, in Nevada.
Status report prepared for Nevada Natural Heritage Program. February 2000. This plant was first collected in

Nye County, Nevada Nye County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 51,591. Its county seat is Tonopah, Nevada, Tonopah. At , Nye is Nevada's largest county by area ...

, near Sunnyside. It was described to science in 1942. Like other ''Frasera'', it was previously included in genus ''Swertia'', and some authors will retain it in that genus. In 1983 it was discovered in Utah for the first time. It has not been observed there since then, and the population size there is unknown. This plant grows in the

Great Basin The Great Basin () is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds, those with no outlets to the ocean, in North America. It spans nearly all of Nevada, much of Utah, and portions of California, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Baja Californi ...

of the United States. It is found in the White River Valley in Nevada and in

Millard County, Utah Millard County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 12,975. Its county seat is Fillmore, and the largest city is Delta. History The Utah Territory legislature created the county ...

. The habitat is calcareous rock barrens and saline washes. When the plant received its name it was thought that the substrate contained high amounts of

gypsum Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate Hydrate, dihydrate, with the chemical formula . It is widely mined and is used as a fertilizer and as the main constituent in many forms of plaster, drywall and blackboard or sidewalk ...

, but analysis shows that there are only small amounts, if any. Associated plants include ''

Artemisia pygmaea ''Artemisia pygmaea'' is a North American species of sagebrush in the aster family known by the common name pygmy sagebrush. Description ''Artemisia pygmaea'' is a small, cushion-like shrub growing up to about 20 centimeters (8 inches) in heigh ...

'', ''

Artemisia tridentata '' Artemisia tridentata'', commonly called big sagebrush,MacKay, Pam (2013), ''Mojave Desert Wildflowers'', 2nd ed., , p. 264. Great Basin sagebrush or simply sagebrush (one of several related species of this name), is an aromatic shrub from the ...

'', ''

Chrysothamnus ''Chrysothamnus'', known as rabbitbrush, rabbitbush, and chamisa, are a genus of shrubs in the family Asteraceae. The native distribution is in the arid western United States, Canada, and northern Mexico. It is known for its bright white or yell ...

'' sp. and ''

Sarcobatus vermiculatus ''Sarcobatus'' is a North American genus of two species of flowering plants, formerly considered to be a single species. Common names for ''S. vermiculatus'' include greasewood, seepwood, and saltbush. Traditionally, ''Sarcobatus'' has been ...

'', '' Elymus cinereus'', ''

Elymus elymoides ''Elymus elymoides'' is a species of wild rye known by the common name squirreltail. This grass is native to central and western North America. Description ''Elymus elymoides'' is a perennial bunch grass growing to around in height. Its erect ...

'', ''

Sporobolus airoides ''Sporobolus airoides'' is a species of grass known by the common name alkali sacaton. It is native to western North America, including the Western United States west of the Mississippi River, British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, and northern ...

'', ''

Stipa hymenoides ''Eriocoma hymenoides'' (common names: Indian ricegrass and sand rice grass) is a cool-season, perennial bunchgrass. It is native to western North America. Description In the wild, ''Eriocoma hymenoides'' typically grows tall and wide.Tirmens ...

'', ''

Comandra umbellata ''Comandra'' is a monotypic genus containing the single species ''Comandra umbellata''. Its common names include bastard toadflax, umbellate bastard toadflax, and common comandra. The plant has a disjunct distribution; its four subspecies occur i ...

'', '' Eriogonum shockleyi'', ''

Hymenopappus filifolius ''Hymenopappus filifolius'' is a North American species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae, daisy family known by the common names fineleaf hymenopappus and Columbia cutleaf. It is native to western and central North America from Alberta and Sas ...

'', '' Lepidium nanum'', '' Phlox tumulosa'', and ''

Physaria ''Physaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. Many species are known generally as twinpods, bladderpods, or lesquerella. They are native to the Americas, with many species endemic to western North America. They are dense ...

'' sp. Threats to this plant include

habitat destruction Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species. The organisms once living there have either moved elsewhere, or are dead, leading to a decrease ...

and degradation caused by cattle and vehicles.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5493727 gypsicola Flora of Nevada Flora of Utah