Taxon Details

Poa diaboli

Diablo Canyon blue grass

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Taxon Summary:

Poa diaboli, commonly known as Diablo Canyon blue grass, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Poaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral (mesic), Cismontane woodland, Closed-cone coniferous forest, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 120 to 400 meters. Poa diaboli is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Poa diaboli Soreng & Keil
Common Name: Diablo Canyon blue grass
Family:	Poaceae
Element Code:	PMPOA4Z390
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
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
CRPR Changes: added to 1B on 2005-02-22
Add Date:	2005-01-01
Date Edited:	2025-10-29

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial rhizomatous herb

Blooming Period: Mar-Apr

Elevation:
120 - 400 meters
395 - 1310 feet

General Habitats:

Closed-cone coniferous forest
Chaparral (mesic)
Cismontane woodland
Coastal scrub

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Burned areas (sometimes)
Shale

Notes

Notes: Known from approximately five occurrences in the San Luis Range. Not in The Jepson Manual. See Madroño 50(4): 300 (2003) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	2
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	2	33 %
Grazing	1	16%
Non-native plant impacts	1	16%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

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

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

Presence:
Presumed Extant	6
Possibly Extirpated	0
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), Port San Luis (3512027)

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