Taxon Details

Cornus unalaschkensis

bunchberry

View Report Copy Link Calflora eFlora CCH CalPhotos iNaturalist

Taxon Summary:

Cornus unalaschkensis, commonly known as bunchberry, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Cornaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Bogs and fens, Meadows and seeps, and North Coast coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 60 to 1920 meters. Cornus unalaschkensis is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Cornus unalaschkensis Ledeb.
Common Name: bunchberry
Family:	Cornaceae
Element Code:	PDCOR010F0
USDA Plants Symbol:	COCA13
Synonyms/Other Names: Cornus canadensis
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S2
Other Status:
CRPR Changes: added to 2.2 on 2012-12-11
Add Date:	2012-12-11
Date Edited:	2025-06-03

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial rhizomatous herb

Blooming Period: May-Jul

Elevation:
60 - 1920 meters
195 - 6300 feet

General Habitats:

Bogs and fens
Meadows and seeps
North Coast coniferous forest

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Notes

Notes: Several populations at the southern end of its distribution in CA are extirpated. Many collections old; need field surveys. Possibly threatened by logging, meadow succession, and climate change. See Species Plantarum 1:118 (1753) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	6
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	3	27 %
Foot traffic/trampling	2	18%
Logging	2	18%
Non-native plant impacts	1	9%
ORV activity	1	9%
Other	1	9%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	1	9%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					11
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	1	1	0	0	9

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	8
Recent <=20 Years	3

Presence:
Presumed Extant	11
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
Alaska (AK), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kentucky (KY), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Montana (MT), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Dakota (SD), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Del Norte (DNT), Humboldt (HUM), Mendocino (MEN), Siskiyou (SIS)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Broken Rib Mtn. (4112386), Eaton Peak (4112238), Fort Bragg (3912347), Maple Creek (4012377), Mendocino (3912337), Polar Bear Mtn. (4112385), Somes Bar (4112344), Tish Tang Point (4112315)

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:	CRPR List Addition on 2012-12-11
CNPS Name Change:	Non-Substantive Name Change: Cornus canadensis to Cornus unalaschkensis
Other:	USFS Potential Species of Conservation Concern Profile

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory