Taxon Details

Aristocapsa insignis

Indian Valley spineflower

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Taxon Summary:

Aristocapsa insignis, commonly known as Indian Valley spineflower, is a annual herb in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Cismontane woodland, growing at elevations from 300 to 600 meters. Aristocapsa insignis is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Aristocapsa insignis (Curran) Rev. & Hardham
Common Name: Indian Valley spineflower
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN0U010
USDA Plants Symbol:	ARIN12
Synonyms/Other Names: Chorizanthe insignis Centrostegia insignis (Curran) Heller
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
Other Status:	BLM_S
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1980-01-01
Date Edited:	2024-11-05

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb

Blooming Period: May-Sep

Elevation:
300 - 600 meters
985 - 1970 feet

General Habitats:

Cismontane woodland (sandy)

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Notes

Notes: Threatened by development. See Bulletin of the California Academy of Sciences 1:275 (1885) for original description, Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs 2:169-190 (1978) for taxonomic treatment, and Phytologia 66(2):83-88 (1989) for revised nomenclature and taxonomic treatment.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	1
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	1	20 %
Dam/Inundation	1	20%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

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

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	4
Recent <=20 Years	1

Presence:
Presumed Extant	4
Possibly Extirpated	1
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

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

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bryson (3512171), Camatta Ranch (3512043), Cosio Knob (3612112), La Panza Ranch (3512042), Lime Mountain (3512068), Pebblestone Shut-in (3512161), San Miguel (3512076), Tierra Redonda Mountain (3512078)

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