(M.E. Jones) Payson
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129715
Element CodePDBRA0M0F0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCapparales
FamilyBrassicaceae
GenusCaulanthus
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.
Taxonomic CommentsFNA (2010) does not recognize infraspecies for this taxon.
Conservation Status
Review Date1999-12-15
Change Date2000-01-18
Edition Date1999-12-15
Edition AuthorsVrilakas, Sue (12/99); rev. N. Benton (1/18/2000)
Range Extent20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank ReasonsThis species is found in California, Nevada. Utah, and Oregon. The bulk of the population is found in California where neither variety is considered threatened although variety nevadensis is considered rare. Nevada does not track Caulanthus major var. nevadensis because it is too common to track. Occurrence numbers for variety nevadensis is estimated at 75 in California, at least another 75 in Nevada, and maybe 10 in Oregon. No population numbers are known for Caulanthus major var. major, and it is not considered rare in California.
Range Extent CommentsThere are two varieties of Caulanthus major. The typical variety is found in southern California (San Bernardino and Los Angeles County areas), Nevada and Utah. Caulanthus major var. nevadensis occurs in northeastern California (Alpine, Lassen, Modoc, and Plumas Counties) into adjacent Oregon (Harney County) and northwestern Nevada.
Occurrences CommentsCaulanthus major var. nevadensis is the only variety that is currently being tracked and only in Oregon. In a status assessment in California for this variety, they noted that it was "quite common" in parts of the state and that they might come up with >50 occurrences (Tibor pers. comm 1999). Nevada does not track Caulanthus major var. nevadensis since it is considered to be too common.
Threat Impact CommentsThreats for the type variety are not known. In California, variety nevadensis was determined to be not very threatened. Threats for variety nevadensis in Oregon and Nevada are not known.