Taxon Report

Malacothamnus palmeri (S. Watson) Greene

Santa Lucia bushmallow

Print Report


© 2017 Keir Morse

Species Description:
Malacothamnus palmeri, commonly known as Santa Lucia bushmallow, is a perennial deciduous shrub in the Malvaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, growing at elevations from 60 to 360 meters. Malacothamnus palmeri is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Malacothamnus palmeri (S. Watson) Greene
Common Name:
 Santa Lucia bushmallow
Family: Malvaceae
Element Code: PDMAL0Q0B5
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Malacothamnus palmeri (S. Watson) Greene var. palmeri

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: perennial deciduous shrub
Blooming Period: May-Jul May-Jul
Elevation: 60-360 (195-1180)
General Habitats: Chaparral
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2
Global Rank: G3T2Q
State Rank:
 S2
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status: SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_SBBG; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 10
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 2
   Fair (C) 1
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 7

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Luis Obispo (SLO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Atascadero (3512046), Cambria (3512151), Cypress Mountain (3512058), Morro Bay North (3512047), Pebblestone Shut-in (3512161), Pico Creek (3512152)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 5
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
3 30 %
Erosion/runoff 2 20%
Road/trail construction/maint. 2 20%
Development 1 10%
Groundwater pumping 1 10%
Non-native plant impacts 1 10%

Notes
 See Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 12:250 (1877) for original description and Leaflets of Botanical Observation and Criticism 1(15): 208 (1906) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:
Threatened by alteration of fire regimes.
Taxonomy:
A synonym of M. palmeri in TJM (1993). 

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 15 January 2025].