Taxon Details

Gilia tenuiflora ssp. arenaria

Monterey gilia

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Taxon Summary:

Gilia tenuiflora ssp. arenaria, commonly known as Monterey gilia, is a annual herb in the Polemoniaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral (maritime), Cismontane woodland, Coastal dunes, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 0 to 45 meters. Gilia tenuiflora ssp. arenaria is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Gilia tenuiflora Benth. ssp. arenaria (Benth.) A. & V. Grant
Common Name: Monterey gilia
Family:	Polemoniaceae
Element Code:	PDPLM041P2
USDA Plants Symbol:	GITEA2
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Fed List:	FE (1992-06-22)
State List:	CT (1987-01-01)
Global Rank:	G3G4T2
State Rank:	S2
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1980-01-01
Date Edited:	2025-10-29

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb

Blooming Period: Apr-Jun

Elevation:
0 - 45 meters
0 - 150 feet

General Habitats:

Chaparral (maritime)
Cismontane woodland
Coastal dunes
Coastal scrub

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Openings
Sandy

Notes

Notes: Intergrades with ssp. tenuiflora near the Salinas River mouth. See Aliso 3(3):246 (1956) for revised nomenclature.
Threats: Seriously threatened by development, sand mining, vehicles, recreational activities, foot traffic, and non-native plants.
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	10
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	18	62 %
Development	14	48%
Non-native plant impacts	10	34%
ORV activity	4	13%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	4	13%
Foot traffic/trampling	4	13%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	6%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	1	3%
Landfill	1	3%
Erosion/runoff	1	3%
Biocides	1	3%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					29
A	B	C	D	X	U
1	4	5	0	4	15

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	20
Recent <=20 Years	9

Presence:
Presumed Extant	25
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	4

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Monterey (MNT), Santa Cruz (SCR)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Marina (3612167), Monterey (3612158), Moss Landing (3612177), Salinas (3612166), Seaside (3612157), Spreckels (3612156), Watsonville West (3612187)

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