TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect Allred’s flax under the Endangered Species Act.

This rare flowering plant is found only in the Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas. Much of its known and potential habitat overlaps with oil and gas leases that are being drilled or could be.

“These beautiful orange flowers grow only on scattered gypsum outcrops in one of the most biodiverse deserts on Earth and they urgently need protection” said Krista Kemppinen, Ph.D., a senior scientist at the Center. “Exploration and extraction of oil and gas resources could wipe these flowers out unless they’re protected under the Endangered Species Act. ”

Oil and gas development may lead to habitat loss and degradation for Allred’s flax through well construction and related infrastructure, dust from new or existing roads and the spread of invasive species.

Other threats to the plant include livestock grazing, mining and climate change — which is primarily driven by the burning of fossil fuels. Future temperatures and drought conditions may exceed levels tolerated by these otherwise hardy desert plants.

Allred’s flax — a perennial plant capable of reproducing asexually — is limited to the northern Chihuahuan Desert and stands out among North America’s Linum species for its highly specialized habitat needs.

Other Permian basin species threatened by oil and gas include the Dunes sagebrush lizard, the Texas hornshell, the Gypsum wild-buckwheat and Tharp’s bluestar.