Taxon Details

Eriodictyon altissimum

Indian Knob mountainbalm

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Taxon Summary:

Eriodictyon altissimum, commonly known as Indian Knob mountainbalm, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Namaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral (maritime), Cismontane woodland, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 80 to 270 meters. Eriodictyon altissimum is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Eriodictyon altissimum Wells
Common Name: Indian Knob mountainbalm
Family:	Namaceae
Element Code:	PDHYD04010
USDA Plants Symbol:	ERAL12
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Fed List:	FE (1994-12-15)
State List:	CE (1979-07-01)
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_USDA
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1974-01-01
Date Edited:	2024-06-04

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial evergreen shrub

Blooming Period: Mar-Jun

Elevation:
80 - 270 meters
260 - 885 feet

General Habitats:

Chaparral (maritime)
Cismontane woodland
Coastal scrub

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Sandstone

Notes

Notes: Known only from the Irish Hills and Indian Knob. Threatened by urbanization, energy development, and vehicles. Possibly threatened by alteration of fire regimes and non-native plants. See Madroño 16(6):184-186 (1962) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	8
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	5	83 %
Other	2	33%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	2	33%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	16%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	1	16%
Development	1	16%
Erosion/runoff	1	16%
Foot traffic/trampling	1	16%
Improper burning regime	1	16%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					6
A	B	C	D	X	U
1	1	2	0	1	1

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	1
Recent <=20 Years	5

Presence:
Presumed Extant	5
Possibly Extirpated	1
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Luis Obispo (SLO)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Morro Bay South (3512037), Pismo Beach (3512026)

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