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Fremontodendron californicum

(Torr.) Coville

California Flannelbush

G4Apparently Secure Found in 55 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.134985
Element CodePDSTE03010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderMalvales
FamilyMalvaceae
GenusFremontodendron
Other Common Names
California flannelbush (EN)
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.
Taxonomic Comments
Arizona specimens referred to by Harvey were Fremontia californica var. typica. The plants treated as Fremontodendron decumbens by Kartesz (1994 and 1999) are sometimes included here as F. californicum ssp. decumbens (as by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2018-05-24
Change Date1990-05-30
Edition Date2018-05-24
Edition AuthorsGardner, P.A. (1989), rev. Treher (2018)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Fremontodendron californicum (excluding F. decumbens) occurs in California, where it is widespread, and in Arizona and Baja California, Mexico, where it is less common. The species is also introduced in some places for erosion control. There are well over 100 documented occurrences, possibly over 200, there are mostly found in California. Threats are unknown but potential threats including grazing, as the species is palatable to grazing mammals. This species is fast growing and produces abundant seeds which make it less vulnerable to many disturbances including fire.
Range Extent Comments
Fremontodendron californicum occurs at the western base of Sierra Nevadas in California, and in Arizona (Gila, Maricopa, Mohave, Pinal, and Yavapai Counties) and in Baja California, Mexico.
Occurrences Comments
This species is reported from about 21 potentially extant occurrences in Gila, Maricopa, Mohave, Pinal, and Yavapai Counties in Arizona. There are many occurrences in California, at a minimum 100, but possibly 200 or more (GBIF 2018; SEINet 2018). The number in Baja California, Mexico is unknown but there are at least 5-6 occurrences as documented by herbarium specimens (GBIF 2018, SEINet 2018).
Threat Impact Comments
This species is palatable to many species, e.g. cattle, deer, and it might be a widespread threat but the severity is unknown (Pavek 1993). Otherwise threats are not known for this species.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species of chaparral, pinyon scrublands, sagebrush scrublands occurs on nutrient poor, dry, rocky soils of foothills and slopes, forming dense thickets at 400 to 2,300 meters on the north slopes of canyons. It occurs in Mediterranean climates (Pavek 1993).

Ecology

This species matures quickly, produces abundant seeds, sprouts prolifically, and has rapid growth. There trait contribute to this species tolerance to even frequent fire. Fire will top kill plants but they resprout from surviving lignotubers (Pavek 1993).

Reproduction

Wind may help to disperse seeds but the ants are probably the primary dispersers, as the seeds have an elaiosome.
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparral
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
ArizonaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - restrictedUnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, EVERGREEN
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (55)
Arizona (2)
AreaForestAcres
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
California (53)
AreaForestAcres
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Dennison PeakSequoia National Forest6,293
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Garcia MountainLos Padres National Forest7,850
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
Heartbreak RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest4,455
IshiLassen National Forest21,805
JuncalLos Padres National Forest12,289
Kings RiverSierra National Forest52,999
Little PineLos Padres National Forest1,315
Machesna MountainLos Padres National Forest12,271
ManzanaLos Padres National Forest2,101
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
MonoLos Padres National Forest28,141
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
Oat Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,223
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
ScodiesSequoia National Forest725
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Sycamore SpringsSierra National Forest10,015
Thomes CreekMendocino National Forest16,616
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
References (7)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2015. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 6. Magnoliophyta: Cucurbitaceae to Droserceae. Oxford University Press, New York. 496 pp + xxiv.
  2. 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.
  3. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  4. Kearney, T.H., and R.H. Peebles. 1960. Arizona flora (with supplement). Univ. California Press, Berkeley.
  5. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.
  6. Pavek, D.S. 1993. <i>Fremontodendron californicum</i>. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Online. Available: www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/frecal/all.html (accessed 24 May 2018).
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2018. Collections Databases. Online. Available: http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/ (accessed 2018).