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Plagiobothrys tenellus

(Nutt. ex Hook.) Gray

Pacific Popcorn-flower

G5Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.132168
Element CodePDBOR0V130
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderLamiales
FamilyBoraginaceae
GenusPlagiobothrys
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 Date2025-03-26
Change Date2025-03-26
Edition Date2025-03-26
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Plagiobothrys tenellus is a small annual herb that is native to western North America. With a large range extent, more than 600 occurrences, and broad habitat preferences for abundant habitat, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Plagiobothrys tenellus is native to the western United States from Washington to southern California and Arizona, southern British Columbia, Canada, and northern Baja California, Mexico (Wildflower center 2025, RARECAT 2024). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, there are estimated to be more than 600 occurrences rangewide (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Plagiobothrys tenellus is potentially threatened by development, road maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Plagiobothrys tenellus grows in dry, open slopes in grasslands, scrub, sagebrush, woodlands, conifer forests (Wildflower Center 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousSuburban/orchard
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN1
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS1Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS3Yes
IdahoSNRYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
UtahS1Yes
OregonSNRYes
WashingtonSNRYes
ArizonaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undeterminedUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationANNUAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (3)
California (2)
AreaForestAcres
Grizzly PeakPlumas National Forest6,222
UnderwoodSix Rivers National Forest6,591
Nevada (1)
AreaForestAcres
Wellington HillsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest21,009
References (6)
  1. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  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. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  4. NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2024. Version: 1.1.1 (released Oct 01, 2024).
  5. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  6. Wildflower Center. 2025. Native Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Austin Texas. Online. Available: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/ (accessed 2025).