Taxon Report

Boechera hoffmannii (Munz) Al-Shehbaz

Hoffmann's rockcress

Print Report


Taxon Summary

Boechera hoffmannii, commonly known as Hoffmann's rockcress, is a perennial herb in the Brassicaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Coastal bluff scrub, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 60 to 395 meters. Boechera hoffmannii is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Boechera hoffmannii (Munz) Al-Shehbaz
Common Name:
Hoffmann's rockcress
Family: Brassicaceae
Element Code: PDBRA060V0
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Arabis hoffmannii

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: Feb-Apr Feb-Apr
Elevation: 60-395 (195-1295)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Coastal bluff scrub, Coastal scrub
Microhabitat: Rocky, Sandy, Volcanic
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 7
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 2
   Fair (C) 1
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 4
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Santa Barbara (SBA), Ventura (VEN)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Anacapa Island (3311983)*, Santa Cruz Island B (3311986), Santa Cruz Island C (3311985), Santa Rosa Island East (3311988), Santa Rosa Island North (3312081)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 3
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
3 43 %
Erosion/runoff 3 42%
Grazing 1 14%
Non-native plant impacts 1 14%

Notes

Rediscovered independently in 1985 by T. Hesseldenz and S. Junak on SCZ Isl. Feral herbivore populations reduced, but still threatened by feral pigs; also possibly threatened by erosion and non-native plants. Reintroduction work on SCZ Isl. ongoing as of 1996. Recent surveys on ANA Isl. have been unsuccessful. See Rhodora 43(511):407 (1941) for taxonomic treatment, and Novon 13(4):381-391 (2003) for revised nomenclature..
Threats:
Taxonomy:
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].