Taxon Report

Chloropyron molle (A. Gray) A. Heller ssp. hispidum (Pennell) Tank & J.M. Egger

hispid salty bird's-beak

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Chloropyron molle ssp. hispidum, commonly known as hispid salty bird's-beak, is a annual herb (hemiparasitic) in the Orobanchaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Meadows and seeps, Playas, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 1 to 155 meters. Chloropyron molle ssp. hispidum is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Chloropyron molle (A. Gray) A. Heller ssp. hispidum (Pennell) Tank & J.M. Egger
Common Name:	hispid salty bird's-beak
Family:	Orobanchaceae
Element Code:	PDSCR0J0D1
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:	Cordylanthus mollis ssp. hispidus

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb (hemiparasitic)
Blooming Period: Jun-Sep	Jun-Sep
Elevation:	1-155 (5-510)
General Habitats:	Meadows and seeps, Playas, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:	Alkaline
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G2T1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	35
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	9
Good (B)	7
Fair (C)	4
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	1
Unknown (U)	14

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Alameda (ALA), Kern (KRN), Merced (MER), Placer (PLA), Solano (SOL)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Altamont (3712166), Coal Oil Canyon (3511911), Delta Ranch (3712016), Denverton (3812128), Dos Palos (3612086), Elmira (3812138), Gosford (3511931), Gustine (3712038), Ingomar (3712028), Lamont (3511838), Los Banos (3712017), Oildale (3511941), Roseville (3812173), San Luis Ranch (3712027), Volta (3712018)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	12
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	23	66 %
Grazing	17	48%
Other	10	28%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	6	17%
Development	6	17%
Dam/Inundation	4	11%
Agriculture	3	8%
Foot traffic/trampling	2	5%
ORV activity	1	2%
Disking	1	2%
Erosion/runoff	1	2%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	2%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	2%

Notes



Apparently extirpated from much of the lower San Joaquin Valley. Threatened by agricultural conversion, development, and grazing. See Brittonia 25:135-158 (1973) 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 30 January 2025].