Hartmaniella sierrae
(Rabeler & R.L. Hartm.) M.L. Zhang
Sierra Starwort
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
High - lowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.738722
Element CodePDCAR13020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyCaryophyllaceae
GenusHartmaniella
SynonymsPseudostellaria sierraeRabeler & R.L. Hartman
Concept ReferenceRabeler, R. K. and R. L. Hartman. 2002. Pseudostellaria sierrae (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from California. Novon 12(1):82-86.
Taxonomic CommentsZhang et al. (2017) recognize Pseudostellaria sierrae and Pseudostellaria oxyphylla (syn. Stellaria oxyphylla) in the genus Hartmaniella on the basis of morphology and molecular evidence.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2015-03-18
Change Date2009-05-07
Edition Date2025-09-05
Edition AuthorsFellows, M. (2004); rev. R. Bittman 5/2005, rev. K. Gravuer (2009), rev. Bittman (2025), rev. Eberly (2025)
Threat ImpactHigh - low
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank ReasonsHartmaniella sierrae is a perennial herb of the western United States in the northern to central High Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The species was described in 2002 and there is still more to be learned about the species abundance, threats, and trends. There are multiple large populations with over a million plants estimated. Logging is reported from many occurrences but the severity of this threat on the species is unknown.
Range Extent CommentsHartmaniella sierrae occurs in the western United States, where it is endemic to California. It is known from at least six counties in the northern and central High Sierra Nevada Floristic Provinces, including: Butte, El Dorado, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, and Tuolumne (Jepson Flora Project 2025).
Occurrences CommentsThere are 40+ estimated occurrences of Hartmaniella sierrae (Jensen and Bittman 2009). In addition, there are 61 records for this species which are not yet added to the CNDDB database.
Threat Impact CommentsThe primary threat to this species is logging, but the severity of this threat to the species is unknown (CNDDB 2025).
Ecology & Habitat
Diagnostic Characteristics
Glabrous stems and leaves, V-shaped apical nothc in each ligulate petal, 5 yellow anthers, seeds with minute projections on each tubercle.
Habitat
This species grows in meadows and the dry understory of mixed oak and coniferous forest at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,000 m (FNA 2005, Jepson Flora Project 2025).
Terrestrial HabitatsForest/WoodlandForest - ConiferForest - MixedGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|
| California | S3 | Yes |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
References (6)
- California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2025. RareFind Version 5.3.0. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2005. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 5. Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae: Caryophyllales, Polygonales, and Plumbaginales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. vii + 656 pp.
- Jensen, N., and R. Bittman. 2009. <i>Pseudostellaria sierrae</i>: Proposed List Change from List 3.2 to List 4.2 . California Native Plant Society and the California Natural Diversity Database. 2 pp. [<a href="https://rareplantfiles.cnps.org/ref/PseudostellariaSierrae_20090610_StsRevChg.pdf">https://rareplantfiles.cnps.org/ref/PseudostellariaSierrae_20090610_StsRevChg.pdf</a>]
- Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2025. Jepson eFlora. Online. Available: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ (accessed 2025).
- Rabeler, R. K. and R. L. Hartman. 2002. <i>Pseudostellaria sierrae</i> (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from California. Novon 12(1):82-86.
- Zhang, M.L., X.Q. Zeng, C. Li, S.C. Sanderson, V.V. Byalt, and Y. Lei. 2017. Molecular phylogenetic analysis and character evolution in <i>Pseudostellaria </i>(Caryophyllaceae) and description of a new genus, <i>Hartmaniella</i>, in North America. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 184:444-456.