CNPS

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory



Taxon Details

Kallstroemia parviflora

warty caltrop

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Photo of Kallstroemia parviflora
© 2019 Wynn Anderson 		Photo of Kallstroemia parviflora
© 2018 Wynn Anderson 		Photo of Kallstroemia parviflora
© 2013 Keir Morse

Taxon Summary:

Kallstroemia parviflora, commonly known as warty caltrop, is a annual herb in the Zygophyllaceae 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 855 to 1705 meters. Kallstroemia parviflora is ranked 4.2, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California.

  Classification

Scientific Name:
Kallstroemia parviflora J.B.S. Norton
Common Name:
warty caltrop
Family: Zygophyllaceae
Element Code: PDZYG03050
USDA Plants Symbol: KAPA
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status: JEF, FNA, POWO,
IPNI, Tropicos

  Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank: 4.2
Fed List: None
State List: None
Global Rank: G5
State Rank:
 S3
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
added to 4.2 on 2015-01-20
Add Date: 2015-01-20
Date Edited: 2023-12-05

  Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Aug-Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
Elevation:
855 - 1705 meters
2805 - 5595 feet
General Habitats:
  • Joshua tree "woodland"
  • Mojavean desert scrub
  • Pinyon and juniper woodland
Microhabitat Details:
Microhabitat:
  • Disturbed areas (sometimes)

  Notes

Notes:
Treated as a waif in TJM (1993) and TJM 2, but now considered native to California. See Annual Report of the Missouri Botanical Garden 9:153 for original description.
Threats:
Threatened by solar energy development. Possibly threatened by mining and severe fires. 
Taxonomy:

  Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 0
Total EOs % of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed: 0 0 %
THREAT LIST:

  Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 0
Element Occurrence Ranks:
A B C D X U
0 0 0 0 0 0
Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years 0
Recent <=20 Years 0
Presence:
Presumed Extant 0
Possibly Extirpated 0
Presumed Extirpated 0

  Location

California Endemic:
California Island:
States: Name (Code)
Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Colorado (CO), District of Columbia (DC), Illinois (IL), Kansas (KS), Louisiana (LA), Maryland (MD), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Nevada (NV), New Mexico (NM), Oklahoma (OK), Pennsylvania (PA), Sonora, Mexico (SO), Texas (TX), Utah (UT)
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD), San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Castle Peaks (3511532), Cima Dome (3511535), Clark Mtn. (3511555), Crescent Peak (3511542), Earthquake Valley (3311614), Hackberry Mountain (3511512), Hart Peak (3511531), Hayfield Spring (3311565), Ivanpah (3511533), Ivanpah Lake (3511554), Mineral Hill (3511544), Pinto Valley (3511523), Ranchita (3311625), Tubb Canyon (3311624), Warner Springs (3311636), Whale Peak (3311613)
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

  Selected References

CNPS Status Review: CRPR List Addition on 2015-01-20

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Suggested Citation:
California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 5 July 2025].
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