Taxon Details

Xylorhiza cognata

Mecca-aster

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Taxon Summary:

Xylorhiza cognata, commonly known as Mecca-aster, is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from 20 to 400 meters. Xylorhiza cognata is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Xylorhiza cognata (Hall) T.J. Watson
Common Name: Mecca-aster
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDASTA1010
USDA Plants Symbol:	XYCO2
Synonyms/Other Names: Machaeranthera cognata
Name Status:	JEF, 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:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1980-01-01
Date Edited:	2021-05-26

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb

Blooming Period: Jan-Jun

Elevation:
20 - 400 meters
65 - 1310 feet

General Habitats:

Sonoran desert scrub

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Notes

Notes: Known mostly from Indio Hills and Mecca Hills. Threatened by vehicles. Potentially threatened by development. Possibly threatened by recreational activities and vehicles. See Brittonia 29:199-216 (1977) for revised nomenclature and description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	8
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	25	69 %
ORV activity	19	52%
Road/trail construction/maint.	4	11%
Erosion/runoff	3	8%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	2	5%
Development	2	5%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	2	5%
Mining	1	2%
Other	1	2%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					36
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	6	11	0	0	19

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	8
Recent <=20 Years	28

Presence:
Presumed Extant	36
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Riverside (RIV)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Mecca (3311651), Mortmar (3311558), Myoma (3311673), Palm Springs (3311675), Thermal Canyon (3311661), West Berdoo Canyon (3311672)

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