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Aristocapsa insignis

(Curran) Reveal & Hardham

Indian Valley Centrostegia

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.136562
Element CodePDPGN0U010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPolygonales
FamilyPolygonaceae
GenusAristocapsa
Synonyms
Centrostegia insignis(Curran) HellerChorizanthe insignisCurran
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
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2020-05-12
Change Date2020-05-12
Edition Date2020-05-12
Edition AuthorsOliver, L. (2002), rev. Bittman and Treher (2016, 2020)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent250-1000 square km (about 100-400 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Aristocapsa insignis is endemic to California (U.S.A.) and known from four occurrences in two counties, Monterey and San Luis Obispo. These occurrences are a high priority to survey and protect, as only one occurrence is shown to be extant in the last 25 years. It is suspected that the species is extirpated from Monterey County. The extant occurrence in San Luis Obispo County is on private land where development is a potential threat and partially in a right of way where it is threatened with road maintenance. One occurrence is known to be extirpated. It is possible this small and cryptic species is overlooked, but without more data, it is believed to be at a very high risk of extinction. Surveys should focus on historical occurrences and potential habitat.
Range Extent Comments
Aristocapsa insignis is endemic to California in the United States and known only from Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties. It is extirpated from Monterey County (Jepson Flora Project 2021).
Occurrences Comments
There are three historical occurrences and only one that is extant.
Threat Impact Comments
There is one known occurrence and it is partially on private land, where it is threatened by development. It is partially on a CalTrans right of way, where road maintenance may impact plants. Threats at the three historical occurrences are unknown.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occurs in sandy, somewhat open areas within grassland, pine-oak woodland, and juniper woodland communities at elevations of 300 to 600 m (FNA 2005).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentPervasive (71-100%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasPervasive (71-100%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationANNUAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
California (2)
AreaForestAcres
Garcia MountainLos Padres National Forest7,850
Machesna MountainLos Padres National Forest12,271
References (11)
  1. Butterworth, C., ed. 2017. Plants of the Carrizo Plain. 341 pp.
  2. CalFlora. 2005. Information on California plants for education, research and conservation. Berkeley, California: The CalFlora Database [web application]. Available: http://www.calflora.org/. (Accessed 2005)
  3. Calflora. 2020. Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals, including the Consortium of California Herbaria. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database. Online. Available: http://www.calflora.org/ (accessed 2020).
  4. California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2001. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (sixth edition). Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee, David P. Tibor, Convening Editor. California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. x + 388pp.
  5. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2020. RareFind Version 5.2.14. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  6. 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.
  7. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  8. Hoover, R.F. 1970. The vascular plants of San Luis Obispo County, California. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 350 pp.
  9. Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2021. Jepson eFlora. Online. Available: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ (accessed 2021).
  10. 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.
  11. Munz, P.A., with D.D. Keck. 1959. A California flora. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1681 pp.