Taxon Details

Montia howellii

Howell's montia

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Taxon Summary:

Montia howellii, commonly known as Howell's montia, is a annual herb in the Montiaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Meadows and seeps, North Coast coniferous forest, and Vernal pools, growing at elevations from 0 to 835 meters. Montia howellii is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Montia howellii Wats.
Common Name: Howell's montia
Family:	Montiaceae
Element Code:	PDPOR05070
USDA Plants Symbol:	MOHO
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G3G4
State Rank:	S2
Other Status:
CRPR Changes: changed from 2B.2 to 2B.2 on 2020-11-19 changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2006-04-17
Add Date:	1994-01-01
Date Edited:	2025-07-01

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb

Blooming Period: (Feb)Mar-May

Elevation:
0 - 835 meters
0 - 2740 feet

General Habitats:

Meadows and seeps
North Coast coniferous forest
Vernal pools

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Roadsides (sometimes)
Vernally Mesic

Notes

Notes: Rediscovered in CA in 1999 by Clare Golec. Did plant occur in DNT Co.? Candidate for state listing in OR.
Threats: Threatened by logging, road construction, road maintenance, vehicles, and competition. Possibly threatened by non-native plants.
Taxonomy: Sometimes mistaken for M. fontana or M. dichotoma.

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	14
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	109	89 %
Road/trail construction/maint.	87	70%
Logging	79	64%
Other	30	24%
Grazing	15	12%
Foot traffic/trampling	14	11%
Non-native plant impacts	12	9%
ORV activity	11	8%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	6	4%
Surface water diversion	5	4%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	3	2%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	2	1%
Biocides	2	1%
Erosion/runoff	2	1%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	2	1%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					123
A	B	C	D	X	U
11	55	32	12	6	7

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	31
Recent <=20 Years	92

Presence:
Presumed Extant	117
Possibly Extirpated	5
Presumed Extirpated	1

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA), Oregon (OR), Washington (WA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Del Norte (DNT), Humboldt (HUM), Trinity (TRI)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Arcata North (4012481), Arcata South (4012471), Bald Hills (4112328), Blocksburg (4012336), Briceland (4012318)*, Bridgeville (4012347), Broken Rib Mtn. (4112386), Buckeye Mtn. (4012432), Bull Creek (4012431), Capetown (4012443), Eureka (4012472), Ferndale (4012453), Fields Landing (4012462), Fort Seward (4012326), Fortuna (4012452), French Camp Ridge (4112327), Harris (4012316), Hennessy Peak (4012375), High Divide (4112481), Hupa Mountain (4112317), Hydesville (4012451), Iaqua Buttes (4012368), Ironside Mtn. (4012374), Korbel (4012378), Larabee Valley (4012346), Lord-ellis Summit (4012387), Mad River Buttes (4012367), Maple Creek (4012377), McWhinney Creek (4012461), Miranda (4012327)*, Myers Flat (4012337), Orick (4112431), Owl Creek (4012358), Panther Creek (4112318), Redcrest (4012348), Salyer (4012385)*, Scotia (4012441), Taylor Peak (4012442), Weitchpec (4112326), Willow Creek (4012386), Yager Junction (4012357)

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

Click on quad for name. Hold Shift Key to use mouse scroll wheel

CNPS Status Review:	Proposed Change from California Rare Plant Rank 2 to 4.2 (2006)
CNPS Status Review:	Proposed Change from California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, G3G4 / S2 to 4.3, G4 / S3 (2020)
Original Description:	Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 18:191 (1883)
Species Account:	Montia howellii profile for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2022)

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory