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Prunus fasciculata

(Torr.) Gray

Desert Almond

G5Secure Found in 13 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.141608
Element CodePDROS1C0E0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRosales
FamilyRosaceae
GenusPrunus
Other Common Names
desert almond (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 Date2025-12-02
Change Date1990-01-16
Edition Date2025-12-02
Edition AuthorsRusso, Mary (TNC WRO) (1989), rev. Soteropoulos (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
Prunus fasciculata is a wide-ranging shrub found in sandy or grassy slopes and mesas, coastal scrub, oak woodlands, sandy or gravelly washes, dry mountain slopes, desert scrub, and pinyon-juniper-Joshua tree woodlands. It occurs in western North America from Utah, Nevada, California, and Arizona in the United States and Baja California, Mexico. There are over 700 occurrences. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Prunus fasciculata occurs in western North America from Utah, Nevada, California, and Arizona in the United States and Baja California, Mexico (FNA 2014). Range extent was estimated to be over 600,000 square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 700 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range and large number of occurrences.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Prunus fasciculata grows in sandy or grassy slopes and mesas, coastal scrub, oak woodlands, sandy or gravelly washes, dry mountain slopes, desert scrub, and pinyon-juniper-Joshua tree woodlands (FNA 2014).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaSNRYes
ArizonaSNRYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
UtahSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (13)
California (6)
AreaForestAcres
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Nevada (5)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6,540
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Lovell Summit SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,455
PotosiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,145
Stirling - West DHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest134
Utah (2)
AreaForestAcres
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
References (9)
  1. Cronquist, A., A. H. Holmgren, N. H. Holmgren, J. L. Reveal, and P. K. Holmgren. 1994. Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A., Volume 5. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2014b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 9. Magnoliophyta: Picramniaceae to Rosaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 713 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  4. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  5. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  6. 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.
  7. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  8. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  9. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, L.C. Higgins, and S. Goodrich, eds. 1987. A Utah Flora. Great Basin Naturalist Memoir 9: 1- 894. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. 894 pp.