Taxon Details

Phacelia ciliata var. opaca

Merced phacelia

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Taxon Summary:

Phacelia ciliata var. opaca, commonly known as Merced phacelia, is a annual herb in the Hydrophyllaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 60 to 150 meters. Phacelia ciliata var. opaca is ranked 3.2, Plants About Which We Need More Information, A Review List; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Phacelia ciliata Benth. var. opaca J.T. Howell
Common Name: Merced phacelia
Family:	Hydrophyllaceae
Element Code:	PDHYD0C0S2
USDA Plants Symbol:	PHCIO
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	3.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G5TH
State Rank:	SH
Other Status:
CRPR Changes: changed from 1B.2 to 3.2 on 2013-02-01
Add Date:	1980-01-01
Date Edited:	2022-06-08

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb

Blooming Period: Feb-May

Elevation:
60 - 150 meters
195 - 490 feet

General Habitats:

Valley and foothill grassland (clay)

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Alkaline (sometimes)

Notes

Notes: Previously on List 1B.2. Taxonomic distinctiveness from P. ciliata is uncertain; needs further study. Most occurrences historical; need field surveys. See P. ciliata in TJM (1993) and TJM 2. See Leaflets of Western Botany 1:221 (1936) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	1
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	2	29 %
Agriculture	2	28%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					7
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	0	0	0	1	6

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	7
Recent <=20 Years	0

Presence:
Presumed Extant	6
Possibly Extirpated	1
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Kings (KNG), Merced (MER)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Hacienda Ranch (3511975), Le Grand (3712022), Merced (3712034), Owens Reservoir (3712032), Plainsburg (3712023), Planada (3712033)

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