Taxon Details

Ceanothus ophiochilus

Vail Lake ceanothus

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Taxon Summary:

Ceanothus ophiochilus, commonly known as Vail Lake ceanothus, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Rhamnaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral (gabbroic, and pyroxenite-rich outcrops), growing at elevations from 580 to 1065 meters. Ceanothus ophiochilus is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Ceanothus ophiochilus Boyd, Ross & Arnseth
Common Name: Vail Lake ceanothus
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Element Code:	PDRHA041M0
USDA Plants Symbol:	CEOP
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Fed List:	FT (1998-10-13)
State List:	CE (1994-01-01)
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1994-01-01
Date Edited:	2021-05-26

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial evergreen shrub

Blooming Period: Feb-Mar

Elevation:
580 - 1065 meters
1905 - 3495 feet

General Habitats:

Chaparral (gabbroic, pyroxenite-rich outcrops)

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Notes

Notes: Known from only three occurrences near Vail Lake; first discovered in 1989. Threatened by proposed development, alteration of fire regimes, firebreak construction, and long-term hybridization with C. crassifolius. See Phytologia 70(1):28-41 (1991) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	5
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	3	100 %
Road/trail construction/maint.	3	100%
Hybridization	2	66%
Non-native plant impacts	2	66%
Development	1	33%
Improper burning regime	1	33%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					3
A	B	C	D	X	U
1	2	0	0	0	0

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	1
Recent <=20 Years	2

Presence:
Presumed Extant	3
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Riverside (RIV)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Pechanga (3311741), Vail Lake (3311648)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory