Eremogone cliftonii

Newly described in 2007, this species can be distinguished from regionally co-occurring congeners by its inflorescence architecture, large petals, length of capsules, and presence (or not) of pubescence or a bloom on vegetative structures (e.g. glabrous stems) (Rabeler and Hartman 2007, L. Janeway pers. comm. to R. Bittman 2008). Kartesz (1999) places all Eremogone species in Arenaria. However, Rabeler and Hartman (2007) note that "although often treated as a subgenus of Arenaria, molecular data support Eremogone as monophyletic and distinct from Arenaria (Nepokroeff et al. 2001);" Eremogone is recognized as a distinct genus in the Flora of North America (2005). The FNA treatment is accepted in draft BONAP (Kartesz) data (June 2010) in which this species is also recognized.

Eremogone cliftonii was described in 2007, and it is a perennial forb occurring in open areas of mixed-conifer forests and montane chaparral habitats, usually on decomposing granite with little organic matter. It is endemic to northern California in the western United States, and it is found primarily in the Plumas and Lassen National Forests in Butte and Plumas counties. Approximately 65-69 occurrences are currently known, and this species can be relatively abundant where it occurs. Threats include road and trail construction and maintenance, logging, off-road vehicles, erosion, improper fire regime, foot traffic, mining, non-native invasive plants, and wood cutting or brush clearing.

Eremogone cliftonii occurs in the western United States and is endemic to Butte and Plumas counties of northern California (CNPS 2024). Specifically, it occurs within the Feather River drainage of the northern High Sierra Nevada subregion of the California Floristic Province (Rabeler and Hartman 2007). The largest concentration of plants is centered on the Flea Mountain area of the Feather River Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest and adjacent areas of the Lassen National Forest (L. Janeway, pers. comm., 2008). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and California Natural Diversity Database occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (CCH2 2024, CNDDB 2024).

The California Natural Heritage Program estimates that there are 69 non-historical occurrences, but by applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and California Natural Diversity Database occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, there may be as few as 65 occurrences rangewide (CCH2 2024, CNDDB 2024).

Eremogone cliftonii is primarily threatened by road and trail construction and maintenance, which impacts 40 percent of occurrences (CNPS 2024). Additional threats (in order of severity) include: logging (33%), off-road vehicle activity (27%), erosion and runoff (13%), improper fire regime (8%), foot traffic and trampling (2%), mining (2%), non-native invasive plants (1%), and wood cutting or brush clearing (1%).