Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.161691
Element CodePDPLU02010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPlumbaginales
FamilyPlumbaginaceae
GenusLimonium
SynonymsStatice californicaBoiss.
Other Common Namesmarsh rosemary (EN) Marsh-rosemary (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 Date2025-02-20
Change Date1990-01-16
Edition Date2025-02-20
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank ReasonsLimonium californicum is a perennial forb occurring on beaches, sand hills, coastal strands, alkaline flats, and in salt marshes and bays of western North America from Oregon, California, and a single site in Clark County, Nevada, in the United States, south through Baja California, Mexico. This species also occurs in Washington state, where it is considered to be introduced. There are an estimated 163 occurrences rangewide, which are potentially threatened by development, recreational activities, invasive species, water diversion, erosion, alteration of hydrology, sea level rise, and other threats in some places. Little is known about the severity and scope of threats, and monitoring populations is important to improving our understanding of the status of Limonium californicum.
Range Extent CommentsLimonium californicum occurs in western North America from Oregon, California, and a single site in Clark County, Nevada in the United States, south through Baja California, Mexico (FNA 2005). It also occurs in Washington state, where sporadic populations in Whatcom County have been introduced from Oregon or Washington (Weinmann et al. 2002). The native range extent (excluding Washington occurrences) was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, there are estimated to be 163 occurrences in the native range of this species (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Limonium californicum is likely threatened by development, recreational activities, invasive species, water diversion, erosion, alteration of hydrology, sea level rise, and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this taxon.