Taxon Report

Leptosiphon pygmaeus (Brand) J.M. Porter & L.A. Johnson ssp. pygmaeus

pygmy leptosiphon

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Taxon Summary

Leptosiphon pygmaeus ssp. pygmaeus, commonly known as pygmy leptosiphon, is a annual herb in the Polemoniaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Coastal scrub, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 455 to 595 meters. Leptosiphon pygmaeus ssp. pygmaeus is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Leptosiphon pygmaeus (Brand) J.M. Porter & L.A. Johnson ssp. pygmaeus
Common Name:	pygmy leptosiphon
Family:	Polemoniaceae
Element Code:	PDPLM09102
USDA Plants Symbol:	LEPYP
Synonyms/Other Names:	Linanthus pygmaeus (Brand) J.T. Howell ssp. pygmaeus

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr	Apr
Elevation:	455-595 (1495-1950)
General Habitats:	Coastal scrub, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G4T1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	7
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	7

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
San Clemente Island Central (3211874), San Clemente Island South (3211873)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


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

Notes



Feral herbivores removed from SCM Isl., and vegetation recovering. Similar to ssp. continentalis; needs study. A synonym of Linanthus pygmaeus ssp. pygmaeus in The Jepson Manual. See Pflanzenreich 4(250):134 (1907) for original description, and Aliso 19(1):55-91 (2000) 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 24 October 2025].