Taxon Report

Monardella leucocephala Gray

Merced monardella

Print Report


© 2020 Hannah Kang

Taxon Summary

Monardella leucocephala, commonly known as Merced monardella, is a annual herb in the Lamiaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Valley and foothill grassland (mesic, and sandy), growing at elevations from 35 to 100 meters. Monardella leucocephala is ranked 1A, Plants Presumed Extirpated in California and Either Rare or Extinct Elsewhere.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Monardella leucocephala Gray
Common Name:
Merced monardella
Family: Lamiaceae
Element Code: PDLAM180C0
USDA Plants Symbol: MOLE
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: May-Aug May-Aug
Elevation: 35-100 (115-330)
General Habitats: Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 3
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 3
   Unknown (U) 0
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Merced (MER)*, Stanislaus (STA)*
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Cooperstown (3712065)*, La Grange (3712064)*, Turlock (3712047)*

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 4
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
3 100 %
Agriculture 3 100%
Grazing 1 33%
Mining 1 33%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 1 33%

Notes

Last seen in 1941. May have been extirpated by agriculture. Good potential for rediscovery, but field surveys in 1990-1992 and 1997 unsuccessful. See Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 7:385 (1867) for original description, and Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 12:90-91 (1925) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:
Taxonomy:
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].