Taxon Report

Downingia laeta (Greene) Greene

Great Basin downingia

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Downingia laeta, commonly known as Great Basin downingia, is a annual herb in the Campanulaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Great Basin scrub (mesic), Marshes and swamps (shallow freshwater), Meadows and seeps, Pinyon and juniper woodland (mesic), and Vernal pools, growing at elevations from 1220 to 2200 meters. Downingia laeta is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Downingia laeta (Greene) Greene
Common Name:	Great Basin downingia
Family:	Campanulaceae
Element Code:	PDCAM06080
USDA Plants Symbol:	DOLA2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: May-Jul	May-Jul
Elevation:	1220-2200 (4005-7220)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub, Marshes and swamps, Meadows and seeps, Pinyon and juniper woodland, Vernal pools
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	IUCN_LC
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	19
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	3
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	14

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Lassen (LAS), Modoc (MOD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Alturas (4112045), Bieber (4112112), Big Swamp (4112121), Holbrook Canyon (4112015), Karlo (4012053), Little Mud Flat (4012042), Lookout (4112122), Milford (4012023), Observation Peak (4012072), Petes Valley (4012054), Ravendale (4012073), Said Valley (4012087), Shaffer Mtn. (4012043), Sheepshead (4012077), Stony Ridge (4012024), Wendel Hot Springs (4012033), West of Snowstorm Mtn. (4012064)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	1
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	5 %
Grazing	1	5%

Notes



Known in CA from fewer than 20 occurrences. On watch list in OR. See Erythea 1:238 (1893) for original description, and Leaflets of Botanical Observation and Criticism 2:45 (1910) 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 27 February 2025].