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Draba monoensis

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White Mountains Draba

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Very highThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.160922
Element CodePDBRA113B0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCapparales
FamilyBrassicaceae
GenusDraba
Other Common Names
Mono Whitlow-grass (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.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-08-22
Change Date2025-08-22
Edition Date2025-08-22
Edition AuthorsD. Gries, rev. R. Bittman (2005, 2025) and N. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactVery high
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Draba monoensis is a perennial forb occurring in gravels, boulder, and rock fields of alpine sites, where it is endemic to the White Mountains in Mono County, California in the United States. It is known from just seven estimated occurrences, all of which are considered historical. Recent survey data from 2020-2024 suggests that this species has experienced short-term declines of 30-50% as a result of drought. Grazing is also a threat to this species at one site. Due to its narrow distribution and location at high elevations, this plant is considered critically imperiled, particularly given the projected impacts of climate change on alpine habitats.
Range Extent Comments
Draba monoensis occurs in the western United States in east-central California, where it is endemic to the White Mountains in Mono County (FNA 2010, CNPS 2025). The range extent was estimated to be 22 square kilometers.
Occurrences Comments
There are seven mapped occurrences of this taxon, though all of these have not been observed in over 20 years and are considered historical, but presumed to be extant (CNDDB 2025, CNPS 2025). There are a number of possible new sites documented from 2020-2024 field forms which are not yet added to the CNDDB database.
Threat Impact Comments
Cattle grazing and feral horse impacts are listed as a possible threat at one site (CNDDB 2025). In addition, climate change is listed as a possible threat on several of the field forms from 2020-2024 surveys, which are not yet added to the CNDDB database. Surveyors did not find plants at sites that were drought-impacted.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Draba monoensis occurs in alpine boulder and rock fields, meadows, seeps, moist gravels, and rock crevices from 3600-4000 m in elevation (FNA 2010, CNPS 2025, Jepson Flora Project 2025).

Reproduction

Draba monoensis produces flowers from July through August (FNA 2010).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousAlpineBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureSmall (1-10%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingSmall (1-10%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3.4 - Scale unknown/unrecordedSmall (1-10%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)Extreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11.2 - DroughtsPervasive (71-100%)Extreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Nevada (1)
AreaForestAcres
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
References (7)
  1. California Native Plant Society (CNPS), Rare Plant Program. 2025. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California, online edition, v9.5. Online. Available: https://www.rareplants.cnps.org (accessed 2025).
  2. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2025. RareFind Version 5.3.0. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2010. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 7. Magnoliophyta: Salicaceae to Brassicaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxii + 797 pp.
  4. Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2025. Jepson eFlora. Online. Available: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ (accessed 2025).
  5. 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.
  6. Skinner, M.W., and B.M. Pavlik, eds. 1997 (1994). Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 1997 Electronic Inventory Update of 1994 5th edition, California Native Plant Society, Special Publication No. 1, Sacramento.
  7. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 2024. Gap Analysis Project (GAP) Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.0: U.S. Geological Survey data release. Online. Available: https://doi.org/10.5066/P96WBCHS (accessed 2025).