Taxon Report

Acmispon argyraeus (Greene) Brouillet var. multicaulis (Ottley) Brouillet

scrub lotus

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Acmispon argyraeus var. multicaulis, commonly known as scrub lotus, is a perennial herb in the Fabaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Pinyon and juniper woodland, growing at elevations from 1200 to 1500 meters. Acmispon argyraeus var. multicaulis is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Acmispon argyraeus (Greene) Brouillet var. multicaulis (Ottley) Brouillet
Common Name:	scrub lotus
Family:	Fabaceae
Element Code:	PDFAB2A052
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:	Lotus argyraeus var. multicaulis

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jun	Apr-Jun
Elevation:	1200-1500 (3935-4920)
General Habitats:	Pinyon and juniper woodland
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Global Rank:	G4?T2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	24
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	22

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Castle Peaks (3511532), Columbia Mtn. (3511514), Hart Peak (3511531), Ivanpah (3511533), Mescal Range (3511545), Pinto Valley (3511523)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	3
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	2	8 %
ORV activity	2	8%
Development	1	4%
Mining	1	4%

Notes



See Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 25:128-206 (1981) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

University of California Publications in Botany 10:211 (1923)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 27 October 2025].