Taxon Report

Stebbinsoseris decipiens (Chambers) Chambers

Santa Cruz microseris

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Taxon Summary

Stebbinsoseris decipiens, commonly known as Santa Cruz microseris, is a annual herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Broadleafed upland forest, Chaparral, Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal prairie, Coastal scrub, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 10 to 500 meters. Stebbinsoseris decipiens is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Stebbinsoseris decipiens (Chambers) Chambers
Common Name:	Santa Cruz microseris
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST6E050
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:	Microseris decipiens Chambers

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-May	Apr-May
Elevation:	10-500 (35-1640)
General Habitats:	Broadleafed upland forest, Chaparral, Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal prairie, Coastal scrub, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:	Openings, Serpentine (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_UCSC
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	19
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	1
Unknown (U)	16

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Marin (MRN), Monterey (MNT), San Francisco (SFO), San Mateo (SMT), Santa Cruz (SCR)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Ano Nuevo (3712213), Big Basin (3712222), Davenport (3712212), Felton (3712211), Franklin Point (3712223), San Francisco North (3712274), San Miguel (3512076), San Rafael (3712285)*, Seaside (3612157), Spreckels (3612156), Tomales (3812228)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	7
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	5	26 %
Grazing	3	15%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	10%
Feral pigs	1	5%
Improper burning regime	1	5%
Military operations	1	5%
Non-native plant impacts	1	5%
Other	1	5%

Notes



Threatened by grazing. USFWS uses the name Microseris decipiens. See Contributions from the Dudley Herbarium 4:290-291 (1955) for original description, and American Journal of Botany 78(8):1015-1027 (1991) for revised nomenclature.
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].