Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Lassicus Lupine

Lupinus constancei

T.W. & J.P. Nelson

Lassicus Lupine

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.151705
Element CodePDFAB2B490
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderFabales
FamilyFabaceae
GenusLupinus
Other Common Names
The Lassics lupine (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
Review Date2015-05-18
Change Date1989-04-28
Edition Date2010-02-16
Edition AuthorsR. Bittman
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Endemic to California, Lupinus constancei is known from two extant occurrences in Humboldt and Trinity counties. It is a serpentine endemic to The Lassics area near Mt. Lassic, in the Six Rivers National Forest. The area has been in Wilderness designation since 2006 and there are no known threats to the species at this time. However, the population sizes are apparently quite small (~300 plants at the one site for which we have a count) and the range is incredibly narrow. Since this is a serpentine endemic to an upper elevation, it is possible that global climate change may affect this species. This should be checked over time.
Range Extent Comments
There are only 2 occurrences which are not too large and are located about 0.25 miles apart. The occurrences are limited to the Van Duzen watershed, within the Lower Eel watershed.
Occurrences Comments
There are only 2 EO's known (2010); both are from The Lassics area, a fairly remote region in Trinity County, California.
Threat Impact Comments
There are no threats listed for either of the 2 known EO's. As of 2006, the Mt. Lassic area was put into Wilderness designation, which gives the area additional protection. Some Wilderness areas are cattle grazed but it is not known if that is a threat to this plant. Since it's a lupine, this may be unlikely (mostly poisonous to cattle?). Since this is a serpentine plant endemic to an upper elevation, it is possible that global climate change may affect this species. This should be monitored over time, perhaps every five years.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Serpentine barrens within Yellow Pine Forest communities. 1500 - 2000 m.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferBarrens
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
11 - Climate change & severe weather———
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alteration———

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Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (4)
California (4)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. LassicSix Rivers National Forest6,643
Mt. LassicSix Rivers National Forest6,643
SoliderSix Rivers National Forest14,918
South ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest16,786
References (10)
  1. 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)
  2. 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.
  3. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  4. Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii). Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University; MLBM Press, Provo, Utah. 1007 pp.
  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. Nakamura, G., and J. K. Nelson, eds. 2001. Illustrated field guide to selected rare plants of northern California. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources publication 3395, Oakland, CA. 370 pp.
  7. 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.
  8. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2016. 90-Day Findings on 10 Petitions. Federal Register 81(178): 63160-63165.
  9. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2022. Endangered Species Status for Lassics Lupine and Designation of Critical Habitat. Proposed rule. Federal Register 87(193): 60612-60638.
  10. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2023. Endangered Species Status for Lassics Lupine and Designation of Critical Habitat. Final rule. Federal Register 88(192): 69074-69098.