Taxon Report

Malacothrix indecora Greene

Santa Cruz Island malacothrix

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Malacothrix indecora, commonly known as Santa Cruz Island malacothrix, is a annual herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Coastal bluff scrub, Coastal dunes, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 5 to 30 meters. Malacothrix indecora is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Malacothrix indecora Greene
Common Name:	Santa Cruz Island malacothrix
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST660J0
USDA Plants Symbol:	MAIN2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Sep	Apr-Sep
Elevation:	5-30 (15-100)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Coastal bluff scrub, Coastal dunes, Coastal scrub
Microhabitat:	Rocky
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	FE
Other Status:	SB_SBBG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	7
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	4
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	3

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Santa Barbara (SBA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
San Miguel Island East (3312083), Santa Cruz Island A (3311987), Santa Cruz Island B (3311986)*, Santa Cruz Island C (3311985), Santa Rosa Island North (3312081)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	3
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	6	86 %
Erosion/runoff	6	85%
Non-native plant impacts	6	85%
Foot traffic/trampling	3	42%

Notes



Known from fewer than ten occurrences. Threatened by feral herbivores, and possibly by erosion. See Bulletin of the California Academy of Sciences 2:152 (1886) for original description, and Madroño 44(3):223-244 (1997) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

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 8 November 2025].