Taxon Report

Tuctoria greenei (Vasey) J. Reeder

Greene's tuctoria

Print Report


©2008 F. Gauna

Taxon Summary

Tuctoria greenei, commonly known as Greene's tuctoria, is a annual herb in the Poaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Vernal pools, growing at elevations from 30 to 1070 meters. Tuctoria greenei is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Tuctoria greenei (Vasey) J. Reeder
Common Name:
 Greene's tuctoria
Family: Poaceae
Element Code: PMPOA6N010
USDA Plants Symbol: TUGR
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Orcuttia greenei Vasey

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: May-Jul(Sep) May-Jul(Sep)
Elevation: 30-1070 (100-3510)
General Habitats: Vernal pools
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1
Global Rank: G1
State Rank:
 S1
State List: CR
Fed List: FE
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 50
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 3
   Good (B) 12
   Fair (C) 6
   Poor (D) 5
   None (X) 19
   Unknown (U) 5

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Butte (BUT), Fresno (FRE)*, Glenn (GLE), Madera (MAD)*, Merced (MER), Modoc (MOD), San Joaquin (SJQ)*, Shasta (SHA), Stanislaus (STA)*, Tehama (TEH), Tulare (TUL)*
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Biggs (3912146), Clovis (3611976)*, Cooperstown (3712065)*, Donica Mtn. (4112132), Escalon (3712078)*, Farmington (3712088)*, Hamlin Canyon (3912166), Haystack Mtn. (3712043), Kismet (3712011)*, Le Grand (3712022), Llano Seco (3912158), Logandale (3912242), Montpelier (3712056)*, Murken Bench (4012174), Nord (3912178), Owens Reservoir (3712032), Paulsell (3712066)*, Peters (3712181), Planada (3712033), Richardson Springs NW (3912188), Round Mountain (3611975)*, Sanger (3611965), Shippee (3912156), Vina (3912281), Waterford (3712067)*, Woodlake (3611941)*

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 12
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
42 84 %
Grazing 29 58%
Agriculture 20 40%
Non-native plant impacts 13 26%
Foot traffic/trampling 5 10%
Disking 3 6%
Development 2 4%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime 2 4%
Biocides 1 2%
Other 1 2%
Road/trail construction/maint. 1 2%
Surface water diversion 1 2%
Mining 1 2%

Notes
Threatened by agriculture, urbanization, overgrazing, and habitat fragmentation and loss. See Botanical Gazette 16:146 (1891) for original description, American Journal of Botany 69:1082-1095 (1982) for taxonomic treatment, and Conservation Genetics, pp. 1-14 (2011) for information on population genetics.
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 12 November 2025].