Taxon Details

Nemacaulis denudata var. gracilis

slender cottonheads

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Taxon Summary:

Nemacaulis denudata var. gracilis, commonly known as slender cottonheads, is a annual herb in the Polygonaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Coastal dunes, Desert dunes, and Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from -50 to 400 meters. Nemacaulis denudata var. gracilis is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Nemacaulis denudata Nutt. var. gracilis Goodm. & Benson
Common Name: slender cottonheads
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN0G012
USDA Plants Symbol:	NEDEG
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:	G3G4T3?
State Rank:	S2
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1994-01-01
Date Edited:	2021-05-26

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb

Blooming Period: (Mar)Apr-May

Elevation:
-50 - 400 meters
-165 - 1310 feet

General Habitats:

Coastal dunes
Desert dunes
Sonoran desert scrub

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Notes

Notes: Threatened by urbanization near Palm Springs (RIV Co.) and along coast. Intergrades with var. denudata at some coastal localities. See Aliso 4:89 (1958) for original description, and Madroño 27(2):101-109 (1980) and Phytologia 66(4):390-91 (1989) for taxonomic treatments.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	4
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	6	25 %
ORV activity	4	16%
Non-native plant impacts	2	8%
Development	2	8%
Grazing	1	4%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					24
A	B	C	D	X	U
1	1	0	0	6	16

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	14
Recent <=20 Years	10

Presence:
Presumed Extant	18
Possibly Extirpated	5
Presumed Extirpated	1

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
Arizona (AZ), Baja California (BA), California (CA), Sonora, Mexico (SO)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Imperial (IMP), Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD), San Diego (SDG)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Acolita (3311512), Amos (3311513), Arica Mountains (3411418), Budweiser Wash (3411577), Cactus (3211478), Carrizo Mtn. (3211671), Cathedral City (3311674), Clarks Pass (3411515), Clyde (3211488), Cowhole Mountain (3511518), Coyote Wells (3211568), Desert Hot Springs (3311685), East of Acolita (3311511), Gene Wash (3411432), Glamis (3211581), Glamis NW (3211582), Glamis SE (3211571), Glasgow (3411587), Imperial Beach (3211751), In-ko-pah Gorge (3211661), Kelso Dunes (3411586), La Quinta (3311663), Mecca (3311651), Oceanside (3311724), Old Dad Mtn. (3511517), Painted Gorge (3211578), Palm Springs (3311675), Point Loma (3211762), Rice (3411417), San Luis Rey (3311723), Tortuga (3311523), White Water (3311686)

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