(Nutt.) Torr. & Gray
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.130475
Element CodePDAST660E0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusMalacothrix
Other Common Namessowthistle desertdandelion (EN) Yellow-saucers (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, 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
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-06-26
Change Date1988-08-31
Edition Date2024-06-26
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsMalacothrix sonchoides is an annual herb occurring in dunes or sand in arroyos, on plains, in grasslands, and Ephedra-Coleogyne shrublands of the Mojave Desert, California, the Great Basin Desert, margins of the Sonoran Desert, and in the intermountain region of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona, United States. There are 400 occurrences of this species, which are potentially threatened by development, right of way maintenance, and invasive species. However, with a large range extent, high number of occurrences, and broad habitat preferences for abundant habitat, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsMalacothrix sonchoides occurs in western North America from Oregon south to California, east to New Mexico, and north to Wyoming in the United States (FNA 2006). Range extent was estimated to be 1.1 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens documented between 1983 and 2024 (SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens documented between 1983 and 2024, it is estimated that there are 400 occurrences rangewide (SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsMalacothrix sonchoides is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, they are considered negligible given the broad range and large number of occurrences of the species and its somewhat flexible and abundant habitat, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.