Taxon Details

Cirsium arizonicum var. tenuisectum

desert mountain thistle

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Taxon Summary:

Cirsium arizonicum var. tenuisectum, commonly known as desert mountain thistle, is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Joshua tree "woodland", Mojavean desert scrub, and Pinyon and juniper woodland, growing at elevations from 1500 to 2800 meters. Cirsium arizonicum var. tenuisectum is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Cirsium arizonicum (A. Gray) Petrak var. tenuisectum Keil
Common Name: desert mountain thistle
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST2E083
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G5T2
State Rank:	S2
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes: added to 1B.2 on 2006-12-27
Add Date:	2006-12-27
Date Edited:	2021-11-05

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb

Blooming Period: Jun-Nov

Elevation:
1500 - 2800 meters
4920 - 9185 feet

General Habitats:

Joshua tree "woodland"
Mojavean desert scrub
Pinyon and juniper woodland

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Disturbed areas
Roadsides (often)
Rocky

Notes

Notes: Known in CA only from the New York Mountains of San Bernardino County. The name Cirsium nidulum has long been misapplied to this species. May be distinctive enough to be its own taxon and not a variety of Cirsium arizonicum. See SIDA 21(1): 210 (2004) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	2
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	2	25 %
Other	1	12%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	12%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					8
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	1	0	0	0	7

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	4
Recent <=20 Years	4

Presence:
Presumed Extant	8
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA), Nevada (NV)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Clark Mtn. (3511555), Ivanpah (3511533), Pinto Valley (3511523)

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