Taxon Details

Acmispon prostratus

Nuttall's acmispon

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Taxon Summary:

Acmispon prostratus, commonly known as Nuttall's acmispon, is a annual herb in the Fabaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Coastal dunes, and Coastal scrub (sandy), growing at elevations from 0 to 10 meters. Acmispon prostratus is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Acmispon prostratus (Torr. & A. Gray) Brouillet
Common Name: Nuttall's acmispon
Family:	Fabaceae
Element Code:	PDFAB2A0V0
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names: Lotus nuttallianus
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G1G2
State Rank:	S1
Other Status:	IUCN_EN; SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_CRES; SB_USDA
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1974-01-01
Date Edited:	2025-10-29

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb

Blooming Period: Mar-Jun(Jul)

Elevation:
0 - 10 meters
0 - 35 feet

General Habitats:

Coastal dunes
Coastal scrub (sandy)

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Notes

Notes:
Threats: Threatened by development, non-native plants, and land management activities; particularly by U.S. Navy at Silver Strand and Imperial Beach. Possibly threatened by foot traffic, vehicles, and illegal dumping.
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	13
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	31	82 %
Non-native plant impacts	24	63%
Foot traffic/trampling	16	42%
Development	14	36%
Other	14	36%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	7	18%
Erosion/runoff	7	18%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	6	15%
ORV activity	5	13%
Road/trail construction/maint.	5	13%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	5	13%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	5	13%
Biocides	3	7%
Military operations	1	2%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					38
A	B	C	D	X	U
3	3	9	9	5	9

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	17
Recent <=20 Years	21

Presence:
Presumed Extant	33
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	5

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
Baja California (BA), California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Diego (SDG)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Del Mar (3211782), Encinitas (3311713), Imperial Beach (3211751), La Jolla (3211772), National City (3211761), Oceanside (3311724), Point Loma (3211762), San Luis Rey (3311723)

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