Taxon Report

Layia heterotricha (DC.) H. & A.

pale-yellow layia

Print Report

© 2003 Christopher L. Christie

Taxon Summary

Layia heterotricha, commonly known as pale-yellow layia, is a annual herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Cismontane woodland, Coastal scrub, Pinyon and juniper woodland, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 300 to 1705 meters. Layia heterotricha is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Layia heterotricha (DC.) H. & A.
Common Name:	pale-yellow layia
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST5N070
USDA Plants Symbol:	LAHE
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Jun	Mar-Jun
Elevation:	300-1705 (985-5595)
General Habitats:	Cismontane woodland, Coastal scrub, Pinyon and juniper woodland, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:	Alkaline (sometimes), Clay (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


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

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	125
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	21
Good (B)	12
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	8
None (X)	1
Unknown (U)	82

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Fresno (FRE), Kern (KRN), Kings (KNG), Monterey (MNT), San Benito (SBT)(?), San Luis Obispo (SLO)*, Santa Barbara (SBA), Ventura (VEN)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Apache Canyon (3411973), Ballinger Canyon (3411984), Bates Canyon (3411988), Bear Canyon (3612113), Bryson (3512171), Burnett Peak (3512172), Caliente Mtn. (3511917), California Valley (3512031), Camatta Ranch (3512043), Carneros Rocks (3511947), Casmalia (3412075), Chimineas Ranch (3511928), Cholame (3512063), Cholame Valley (3512073), Ciervo Mtn. (3612045), Coalinga (3612023), Cuddy Valley (3411971), Curry Mountain (3612014), Cuyama (3411985), Cuyama Peak (3411974), Domengine Ranch (3612033), Elkhorn Hills (3511915), Fox Mountain (3411975), Freeman Junction (3511758), Garza Peak (3512082), Goleta (3411947), Greenfield (3612132), Hames Valley (3512088), Joaquin Rocks (3612034), La Panza (3512032), Lake Cachuma (3411958), Las Yeguas Ranch (3511948), Lillis Ranch (3612044), Lockwood Valley (3411961), Lompoc (3412064), Matilija (3411943), McKittrick Summit (3511937), Mojave (3511812), Monarch Peak (3612027), Monolith (3511813), Nattrass Valley (3612028), North Chalone Peak (3612142), Orchard Peak (3512062), Panoche (3612057)(?), Panorama Hills (3511926), Pleito Hills (3411981), Rancho Nuevo Creek (3411964), Reward (3511936), Reyes Peak (3411963), Rock Spring Peak (3612048), Salisbury Potrero (3411976), San Guillermo (3411962), Santa Rita Peak (3612035), Sawmill Mountain (3411972), Simmler (3511938), Smith Mountain (3612015), Surf (3412065), Taylor Canyon (3511918), Tehachapi NE (3511823), Tehachapi North (3511824), Tehachapi South (3511814), Tent Hills (3512072), The Dark Hole (3512083), Thompson Canyon (3612122), Tierra Redonda Mountain (3512078), Tumey Hills (3612056), Wells Ranch (3511916), Wheeler Springs (3411953)*, Wilson Corner (3512044)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	11
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	33	26 %
Non-native plant impacts	11	8%
Road/trail construction/maint.	11	8%
Development	7	5%
Grazing	6	4%
ORV activity	5	4%
Feral pigs	3	2%
Foot traffic/trampling	2	1%
Erosion/runoff	2	1%
Improper burning regime	2	1%
Other	1	0%
Agriculture	1	0%

Notes



Threatened by agricultural conversion and previous construction of San Antonio Reservoir, grazing, non-native plants, and vehicles. Potentially threatened by road maintenance and wind energy development.
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 5 February 2025].