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Home/Species/ California Torreya

Torreya californica

Torr.

California Torreya

G4Apparently Secure Found in 17 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
VulnerableIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.135995
Element CodePGTXA02010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNVulnerable
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumConiferophyta
ClassPinopsida
OrderTaxales
FamilyTaxaceae
GenusTorreya
Synonyms
Tumion californicum(Torr.) Greene
Other Common Names
California nutmeg (EN) California-nutmeg (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 MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Biotics v1
Review Date2020-04-27
Change Date1999-10-18
Edition Date2020-04-29
Edition AuthorsRusso, Mary (TNC WRO, 1989), rev. L. Morse (1995), rev. Treher (2020)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Rank Reasons
Torreya californica is endemic to California. Historically this species was logged and suffered habitat loss due to residential development and conversion of lands for agriculture. Currently, many occurrences are on protected lands where threats are likely low.
Range Extent Comments
Torreya californica is endemic to California in the North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range Foothills, Sierra Nevada, and the Outer South Coastal Ranges (Hickman 1993).
Threat Impact Comments
Although this species declined due to habitat loss and logging, many extant occurrences are on protected lands.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occurs in shady canyons of forests or woodlands, and sometimes chaparral at elevations between 30 and 2,100 m (Hickman 1993).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandShrubland/chaparral
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
DurationEVERGREEN
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (17)
California (17)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
Bald RockPlumas National Forest4,675
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Cub CreekLassen National Forest8,643
Dennison PeakSequoia National Forest6,293
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
IshiLassen National Forest21,805
Kings RiverSierra National Forest52,999
Mill CreekLassen National Forest7,587
MonarchSierra National Forest697
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
North Fork Middle Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest11,245
North MountainStanislaus National Forest7,856
RubiconEldorado National Forest4,872
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
References (7)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1993a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 2. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xvi + 475 pp.
  2. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  3. Howard, J. L. 1992. <i>Torreya californica</i>. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Online. Available: www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/torcal/all.html (accessed 29 April 2020).
  4. 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.
  5. Little, E.L., Jr. 1971. Atlas of the United States trees. Vol. I. Conifers and important hardwoods. Miscellaneous Publication No. 1146. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 200 pp.
  6. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.
  7. Munz, P.A., and D.D. Keck. 1973. A California Flora and Supplement. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1905 pp.