Home/Species/ California Mucronea

Mucronea californica

Benth.

California Mucronea

G3Vulnerable Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G3VulnerableGlobal Rank

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.152192

Element CodePDPGN0F010

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single state or province

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassDicotyledoneae

OrderPolygonales

FamilyPolygonaceae

GenusMucronea

Concept Reference

Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Conservation Status

Review Date2015-03-10

Change Date1997-03-18

Edition Date2002-07-10

Edition AuthorsOliver, L., rev. K. Gravuer (2009)

Rank Reasons

Endemic to southern Central Western and Southwestern California, along the coast from San Luis Obispo County south to San Diego County and inland in the South Coast and Transverse ranges (Western Transverse Ranges, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and San Jacinto Mountains). This species has almost certainly declined substantially from historical levels, as its most suitable/abundant habitat is considered to be near the coast in areas now heavily urbanized. Because of the extensive urbanization in southern California, the species is now considered "uncommon" within its range. Over 200 herbarium specimens have been collected, but only about 50 of these were collected in 1980 or later. The species is believed to still be declining in the region due to coastal urban development and is also threatened by aggregate mining, vehicles, flood control modification, and water percolation projects.

Range Extent Comments

Endemic to southern Central Western and Southwestern California (Hickman 1993); most frequently collected from San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2005) describes the species as "found mainly along the Pacific Coast from San Luis Obispo County south to San Diego County and inland in the southern Coast and Transverse ranges from Monterey County to Los Angeles and western Riverside County." According to Hickman (1993), it occurs in the Central and South Coast (incl. Channel Islands), San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Western Transverse Ranges, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and San Jacinto Mountains. Counties where recorded include Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties (CNPS 2009).

Occurrences Comments

Occurrences of this species have not been mapped. Approximately 210 distinct herbarium specimens are present in the Consortium of California Herbaria database (2009), although only about 50 of these have been collected since 1980. The California Native Plant Society (2009) describes it as "rare in southern California; many herbarium records old."

Threat Impact Comments

Remaining populations are considered "fairly endangered" in California; they are threatened by aggregate mining, vehicles, flood control modification, urbanization, and water percolation projects.

Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Sometimes found growing with Mucronea perfoliata, from which it is distinguished by its 1-3 involucres per node (M. perfoliata always has 1 per node); its usually 3 (rarely 2 or 4) bracts per node, positioned to the side of the node with awns usually 1-2.5 mm (vs. 4 perfoliate bracts per node with awns usually 0.5-1.2 mm in M. perfoliata); and its 1-2 flowers per node (M. perfoliata always has 1 per node) (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2005). In the rosette stage, it can be distinguished from Chorizanthe orcuttiana (in San Diego County) by its sparse, stiff hairs primarily at the leaf margins (vs. long, silky trichomes in C. orcuttiana).

Habitat

Often in sandy openings within coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities; also occurs on dunes and on sandy substrates in coastal grasslands, valley and foothill grassland, and cismontane (pine-oak) woodlands. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2005) reports that "along the coast (especially in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties), it can be weedy in deep, moving sands." 0 - 1400 m.

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest/WoodlandWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousSand/dune

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN3

Province	Rank	Native
California	S3	Yes

Plant Characteristics

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (2)

California (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Black Mountain	Los Padres National Forest	16,818
Garcia Mountain	Los Padres National Forest	7,850

References (7)

California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2009. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants. California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. Online. Available: http://www.cnps.org/inventory (accessed 2009).
Consortium of California Herbaria. 2009. Online database of vascular plant specimens in California herbaria. Online. Available: http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/consortium/ (accessed 2009).
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.
Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
Hoover, R.F. 1970. The vascular plants of San Luis Obispo County, California. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 350 pp.
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Reiser, C. 1994. Rare plants of San Diego County. http://sandiego.sierraclub.org/rareplants/. Site updated October 6, 2001 by E. Kanner and B. Buffett. Site accessed 2003.