Endemic Plants

of Monterey County

Douglas’ Fiddleneck (Amsinckia douglasiana) & Pale-yellow Layia (Layia heterotricha)

The diverse geologic history and climatic conditions of Monterey county have created a mosaic of isolated and specialized environments, which contribute to the evolution of locally endemic plants. A number of locations in our area are known for their locally endemic species, including the Monterey Peninsula, Fort Ord dunes, the northern Santa Lucia Mountains, and Fort Hunter Liggett. We are compiling botanical and conservation information about many of the endemic plant species of Monterey and San Benito counties.

More information on rare plant rankings can be found from CNPS and from NatureServe.

*Some of these plants are not technically endemic to Monterey and San Benito counties, as they may have small outliers in neighboring counties. Common names are from The Plants of Monterey County – an Illustrated Field Key by Matthews & Mitchell.

Agrostis lacuna-vernalis
Vernal Pool Bent Grass
Found only in vernal pools in Fort Ord; first described in 2011

Arctostaphylos edmundsii
Little Sur Manzanita
Grows on exposed sea bluffs along the northern Big Sur coast.

Arctostaphylos montereyensis
Toro Manzanita
From maritime chaparral in sandy soils from the Monterey Bay region.

Arctostaphylos pumila
Sandmat Manzanita
From maritime chaparral in sandy soils from the Monterey Bay region.

Chlorogalum purpureum var. purpureum
Santa Lucia Purple Amole
Sterile soils in blue oak savanna s Monterey and n San Luis Obispo cos.

Chorizanthe minutiflora
Fort Ord Spineflower
Found only in maritime chaparral and sandy openings in Fort Ord, first described in 2014.

Clarkia jolonensis
Jolon Clarkia
Recently burned shrubland and woodland near Jolon, in s Monterey Co.

Delphinium hutchinsoniae
Hutchinson’s Larkspur
In coastal scrub in coastal canyons along northern Big Sur coast.

Ericameria fasciculata
Eastwood’s Goldenbush
In sandy soils in maritime chaparral southern Monterey Bay region.

Eriogonum butterworthianum
Butterworth’s Buckwheat
From sandstone cliffs and outcrops southwest of Junipero Serra Peak.

Erysimum menziesii
Menzies’ Wallflower
In coastal dunes along s Monterey Bay. Subspecies no longer recognized.

Galium californicum subsp. luciense
Cone Peak Bedstraw
High-elevation oak and pine forests scattered in Ventana Wilderness.

Galium clementis
Santa Lucia Bedstraw
High-elevation north-facing slopes scattered in Ventana Wilderness.

Gilia tenuiflora subsp. arenaria
Monterey Gilia
Sandy soil in dune scrub and maritime chaparral in southern Monterey Bay region.

Hesperocyparis goveniana
Gowen Cypress
Sterile sandy soils near Monterey Pine forest found only near Monterey & Pt. Lobos.

Hesperocyparis macrocarpa
Monterey Cypress
Native to rocky sea cliffs near Monterey; now widely planted elsewhere.

Malacothamnus abbottii
Abbott’s Bush Mallow
Gravel soils in river channels Salinas River watershed, s Monterey Co.

Malacothamnus palmeri var. lucianus
Arroyo Seco Bush Mallow
Disturbed soil in western Monterey Co. Recently merged with M. p. var. palmeri

Piperia yadonii
Yadon’s Rein-orchid / Piperia
Maritime chaparral and conifer forests from the Monterey region.

Pogogyne clareana
Santa Lucia Mint / Clare’s Pogogyne
Creeks, swales and vernal pools. Fort Hunter Liggett, s Monterey Co..

Sidalcea hickmanii subsp. hickmanii
Hickman’s Checkerbloom
Dry chaparral ridges and flats western Monterey County.

Trifolium polyodon
Pacific Grove Clover
Vernal wetlands, Monterey area. Few small populations in Santa Cruz Co.

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.1
NatureServe Rank G1
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.2
NatureServe Rank G2/S2.2
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.2
NatureServe Rank G2/S2.1
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.2
NatureServe Rank G2/S2.2
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.1
NatureServe Rank G1T1/S1.1
Federal – Threatened
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.2
NatureServe Rank G1/S1
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.2
NatureServe Rank G2/S2.1
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.1
NatureServe Rank G2/S2.1
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.3
NatureServe Rank G1/S1.3
Federal – unlisted
State – Rare

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.1
NatureServe Rank G1/S1.1
Federal – Endangered
State – Endangered

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.3
NatureServe Rank G5T2/S2.3
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.3
NatureServe Rank G2/S2.3
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.2
NatureServe Rank G3G4T2/S2.2
Federal – Endangered
State – Threatened

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.2
NatureServe Rank G2T1/S1.2
Federal – Threatened
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.2
NatureServe Rank G1/S1.2
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.1
NatureServe Rank G1/S1.1
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.2
NatureServe Rank G3T?/S?
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.1
NatureServe Rank G2/S2.1
Federal – Endangered
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.2
NatureServe Rank G1/S1.2
Federal – unlisted
State – Endangered

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.3
NatureServe Rank G3T2/S2.3
Federal – unlisted
State – unlisted

California Rare Plant Rank 1b.1
NatureServe Rank G?/S?
Federal – unlisted
State – Rare

Calflora Taxon Report
Elkhorn Slough Factsheet
CalPhotos Database Results
photo: © David Styer 2014

Calflora Taxon Report
Elkhorn Slough Factsheet
CalPhotos Database Results
photo: Steve Matson, 2005

Calflora Taxon Report
Elkhorn Slough Factsheet
CalPhotos Database Results
photo: Michael Mitchell

Calflora Taxon Report
Elkhorn Slough Factsheet
CalPhotos Database Results
photo: © Laura Eliassen, 2004

Calflora Taxon Report
CalPhotos Database Results

photo: Michael Mitchell

Calflora Taxon Report
Elkhorn Slough Factsheet
CalPhotos Database Results
photo: Michael Mitchell

Calflora Taxon Report
Elkhorn Slough Factsheet
CalPhotos Database Results
photo: © John Game, 1999

Calflora Taxon Report
Elkhorn Slough Factsheet
CalPhotos Database Results
photo: Michael Mitchell

Calflora Taxon Report
CalPhotos Database Results

photo: © Dean Taylor, 2005

Calflora Taxon Report
CalPhotos Database Results

photo: © Dean Taylor, 2005

Calflora Taxon Report
Elkhorn Slough Factsheet
CalPhotos Database Results
photo: Michael Mitchell

Calflora Taxon Report
CalPhotos Database Results

photo: Michael Mitchell

Calflora Taxon Report
Elkhorn Slough Factsheet
CalPhotos Database Results
photo: © C. Winchell, 2011

Calflora Taxon Report
CalPhotos Database Results

photo: Michael Mitchell

Calflora Taxon Report
Elkhorn Slough Factsheet
CalPhotos Database Results
photo: Michael Mitchell

Calflora Taxon Report
CalPhotos Database Results