Taxon Report

Leptosiphon aureus Benth.

bristly leptosiphon

Print Report


© 2007 Len Blumin

Taxon Summary

Leptosiphon aureus, commonly known as bristly leptosiphon, is a annual herb in the Polemoniaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Coastal prairie, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 55 to 1500 meters. Leptosiphon aureus is ranked 4.2, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Leptosiphon aureus Benth.
Common Name:
 bristly leptosiphon
Family: Polemoniaceae
Element Code: PDPLM09010
USDA Plants Symbol: LEAC11
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Linanthus acicularis Greene
  • Leptosiphon acicularis (Greene) Jeps.

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jul Apr-Jul
Elevation: 55-1500 (180-4920)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Coastal prairie, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 4.2
Global Rank: G4?
State Rank:
 S4?
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 0
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 0

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Alameda (ALA), Butte (BUT), Colusa (COL), Humboldt (HUM), Kern (KRN), Lake (LAK), Marin (MRN), Mendocino (MEN), Napa (NAP), Placer (PLA), San Benito (SBT), San Mateo (SMT), Santa Clara (SCL), Solano (SOL), Sonoma (SON), Yuba (YUB)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Auburn (3812181), Bartlett Springs (3912226), Benmore Canyon (3912215), Big Basin (3712222), Bolinas (3712286), Bridgeville (4012347), Brushy Mtn. (3912352), Burbeck (3912344), Calistoga (3812255), Camp Meeker (3812248), Capell Valley (3812242), Castle Rock Ridge (3712221), Cazadero (3812351), Clearlake Highlands (3812286), Clearlake Oaks (3912216), Cold Spring (3912315), Comptche (3912335), Cordelia (3812222), Covelo East (3912372), Davenport (3712212), Detert Reservoir (3812265), Dos Rios (3912363), Dublin (3712168)?, Elledge Peak (3912312), Felton (3712211), Fort Ross (3812352), Foster Mtn. (3912342), Garberville (4012317), Geyserville (3812268), Glen Ellen (3812235), Gold Hill (3812182), Hayward (3712261), Healdsburg (3812257), Hennessy Peak (4012375), Hepsedam Peak (3612037), Highland Springs (3812288), Holter Ridge (4112338), Honcut (3912135), Hopland (3812381), Hull Mountain (3912258), Inverness (3812217), Jamison Ridge (3912362), Jimtown (3812267), Kelseyville (3812287), Kenwood (3812245), Lakeport (3912218), Larabee Valley (4012346), Laughlin Range (3912333), Leech Lake Mtn. (3912381), Livermore (3712167), Loma Rica (3912134), Longvale (3912354), Lower Lake (3812285), Lucerne (3912217), Mark West Springs (3812256), Middletown (3812275), Mindego Hill (3712232), Miranda (4012327), Monticello Dam (3812251), Mt. George (3812232), Napa (3812233), Newhouse Ridge (3912371), Novato (3812215), Oakland East (3712272), Orick (4112431), Ornbaun Valley (3812383), Orrs Springs (3912323), Palermo (3912145), Palo Alto (3712242), Petaluma River (3812225), Philo (3912314), Plantation (3812353), Potter Valley (3912331), Purdys Gardens (3912311), Redwood Valley (3912332), Richmond (3712283), Rutherford (3812244), Salt Canyon (3912213), Salyer (4012385), San Rafael (3712285), Santa Rosa (3812246), Sears Point (3812224), Sonoma (3812234), The Geysers (3812277), Ukiah (3912322), Upper Lake (3912228), Valley Ford (3812238), Walker Pass (3511861), Whispering Pines (3812276), Willits (3912343), Willow Creek (4012386), Woodside (3712243), Yountville (3812243)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 0
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
0 0 %

Notes
Historical occurrences need verification. Does plant occur in CCA Co.?
Threats:
Potentially threatened by road widening.
Taxonomy:
A synonym of Linanthus acicularis in TJM (1993).

Selected References

Non-Substantive Name Changes: Multiple taxa in various plant families from the Jepson eFlora revisions 8, 9, and 10
Pittonia 2:259 (1892)
School fl. Pacif. Coast 77 (1902)
Leptosiphon acicularis profile for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2018)
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 21 May 2025].