Species Details

Lessingia arachnoidea

Crystal Springs lessingia

View Report Copy Link Calflora eFlora CCH CalPhotos iNaturalist

Species Description:

Lessingia arachnoidea, commonly known as Crystal Springs lessingia, is a annual herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Cismontane woodland, Coastal scrub, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 60 to 200 meters. Lessingia arachnoidea is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Lessingia arachnoidea Greene
Common Name: Crystal Springs lessingia
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST5S0C0
USDA Plants Symbol:	LEAR33
Synonyms/Other Names: Lessingia micradenia Greene var. arachnoidea (Greene) Ferris
Name Status:	JEP, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S2
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1994-01-01
Date Edited:	2022-01-05

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb

Blooming Period: Jul-Oct

Elevation:
60 - 200 meters
195 - 655 feet

General Habitats:

Cismontane woodland
Coastal scrub
Valley and foothill grassland

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Roadsides (often)
Serpentine

Notes

Notes: Known only from near Crystal Springs Reservoir (SMT Co.); occurrences from SON Co. (502B, 518C) need taxonomic verification. Threatened by non-native plants and pipeline maintenance. See Leaflets of Botanical Observation and Criticism 2:29 (1910) 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:	9	82 %
Other	6	54%
Non-native plant impacts	5	45%
Road/trail construction/maint.	4	36%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	1	9%
Disking	1	9%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	9%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					11
A	B	C	D	X	U
2	4	2	0	0	3

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	5
Recent <=20 Years	6

Presence:
Presumed Extant	11
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Mateo (SMT), Sonoma (SON)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Camp Meeker (3812248), Duncans Mills (3812341), Montara Mountain (3712254), San Mateo (3712253), Woodside (3712243)

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 Rare Plant Inventory