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Claytonia panamintensis

T.R. Stoughton

Panamint Spring Beauty

G2Imperiled Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1134085
Element CodePDPOR03130
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusProvisional
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyMontiaceae
GenusClaytonia
Concept Reference
Stoughton, T.R., D.D. Jolles, and R.L. O'Quinn. 2017. The western spring beauties, Claytonia lanceolata (Montiaceae): a review and revised taxonomy for California. Systematic Botany 42(2): 283-300.
Taxonomic Comments
According to Stoughton et al. (2017), "Tuberous, perennial Claytonia plants in the Panamint Mountains were previously identified as C. lanceolata or C. lanceolata var. peirsonii...The distribution, habitat, DNA data, and morphology of these Claytonia in the Panamint Mountains indicate that C. panamintensis is a distinct species worth of recognition."
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-09
Change Date2025-07-09
Edition Date2025-07-09
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Claytonia panamintensis is a small, early-flowering herb that grows in talus slopes in the western United States, where it is endemic to Death Valley National Park, California, and the Spring Mountains, Nevada. The known locations occur in protected areas so threats are likely limited to climate shifts. With a small range and few occurrences, this species is considered imperiled.
Range Extent Comments
Claytonia panamintensis is found in the western United States where it is endemic to the Panamint Mountains in southeastern California and the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada (Stoughton et al. 2017). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (CNDDB 2025, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are 8 occurrences rangewide (CNDDB 2025, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats to this species have not been evaluated but are likely to be medium to low given the remote and difficult terrain it grows in within protected National Park, National Forest, and Wilderness lands. The climate suitability for the surrounding pinyon-juniper vegetation is expected to be stable or decreasing in the future but the effect of these changes on Claytonia panamintensis has not been evaluated (Comer et al 2019).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Claytonia panamintensis grows "on north-facing, stony and talus slopes comprised of primarily (meta)sedimentary substrates (e.g. marble, shale/slate, sandstone) mixed with decomposing organic material. Found most often in openings of Pinus-Juniperus and Quercus woodland habitats" (Stoughton et. al. 2017).
Terrestrial Habitats
Bare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS1Yes
NevadaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
11 - Climate change & severe weatherLarge (31-70%)UnknownModerate (short-term)
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationLarge (31-70%)UnknownModerate (short-term)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (3)
Nevada (3)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Lovell Summit SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,455
PotosiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,145
References (8)
  1. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2025. RareFind Version 5.3.0. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  2. Comer, P.J., J.C. Hak, M.S. Reid, S.L. Auer, K.A. Schulz, H.H. Hamilton, R.L. Smyth, and M.M. Kling. 2019. Habitat Climate Change Vulnerability Index Applied to Major Vegetation Types of the Western Interior United States. Land 8(7), 108; doi:10.3390/land8070108.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  4. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  5. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  6. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  8. Stoughton, T.R., D.D. Jolles, and R.L. O'Quinn. 2017. The western spring beauties, <i>Claytonia lanceolata</i> (Montiaceae): a review and revised taxonomy for California. Systematic Botany 42(2): 283-300.