Taxon Report

Malperia tenuis Wats.

brown turbans

Print Report


Taxon Summary

Malperia tenuis, commonly known as brown turbans, is a annual herb in the Asteraceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Sonoran desert scrub (sandy, and gravelly), growing at elevations from 15 to 335 meters. Malperia tenuis is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Malperia tenuis Wats.
Common Name:
brown turbans
Family: Asteraceae
Element Code: PDAST67010
USDA Plants Symbol: MATE3
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: (Feb)Mar-Apr (Feb)Mar-Apr
Elevation: 15-335 (50-1100)
General Habitats: Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank: 2B.3
Global Rank: G4?
State Rank:
S2?
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status: SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_USDA
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 30
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 2
   Good (B) 2
   Fair (C) 6
   Poor (D) 1
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 19
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Imperial (IMP), San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Arroyo Tapiado (3211682), Borrego Mountain SE (3311611), Borrego Sink (3311623), Carrizo Mtn. (3211671), Carrizo Mtn. NE (3211681), Coyote Wells (3211568), Harpers Well (3311518), In-ko-pah Gorge (3211661), Mount Signal (3211566), Painted Gorge (3211578), Plaster City (3211577), Plaster City NW (3211588), Sweeney Pass (3211672), Tubb Canyon (3311624), Yuha Basin (3211567)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 7
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
9 30 %
Development 6 20%
Foot traffic/trampling 1 3%
Mining 1 3%
Non-native plant impacts 1 3%
ORV activity 1 3%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 1 3%
Vandalism/dumping/litter 1 3%
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 30 January 2025].