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Helianthus gracilentus

Gray

Slender Sunflower

G5Secure Found in 35 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.155500
Element CodePDAST4N0N0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusHelianthus
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 Date2025-11-11
Change Date2025-11-11
Edition Date2025-11-11
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Helianthus gracilentus is a wide-ranging perennial herb found on dry slopes, chaparral, and woodland, especially after fires. It occurs in western North America in western California, United States, from the North Coast Ranges south to northern Baja California, Mexico. There are over 600 estimated occurrences, which potentially face threats from development, fire suppression, invasive species, and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Helianthus gracilentus occurs in western North America in western California, United States, from the North Coast Ranges south to northern Baja California, Mexico (FNA 2006, Jepson 2025). Range extent was estimated to be over 150,000 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 600 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, fire suppression, 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

Helianthus gracilentus grows on dry slopes, chaparral, and woodland, especially after fires (FNA 2006, Jepson 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralSavanna
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (35)
California (35)
AreaForestAcres
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Black MountainLos Padres National Forest16,818
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
La BreaLos Padres National Forest14,031
La PanzaLos Padres National Forest4,954
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
Machesna MountainLos Padres National Forest12,271
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
Salt CreekAngeles National Forest11,022
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San Mateo CanyonCleveland National Forest65
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest4,254
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
References (8)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006c. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 21. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 8: Asteraceae, part 3. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 616 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2025. Jepson eFlora. Online. Available: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ (accessed 2025).
  5. 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.
  6. Munz, P.A., with D.D. Keck. 1959. A California flora. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1681 pp.
  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).