Taxon Report

Eriastrum tracyi H. Mason

Tracy's eriastrum

Print Report


© 2012 Neal Kramer

Taxon Summary

Eriastrum tracyi, commonly known as Tracy's eriastrum, is a annual herb in the Polemoniaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 315 to 1780 meters. Eriastrum tracyi is ranked 3.2, Plants About Which We Need More Information, A Review List; Moderately threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Eriastrum tracyi H. Mason
Common Name:
 Tracy's eriastrum
Family: Polemoniaceae
Element Code: PDPLM030C0
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: May-Jul May-Jul
Elevation: 315-1780 (1035-5840)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 3.2
Global Rank: G3Q
State Rank:
 S3
State List: CR
Fed List: None
Other Status: USFS_S
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 1B.2 to 3.2 on 2012-08-23

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 119
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 19
   Good (B) 54
   Fair (C) 9
   Poor (D) 2
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 35

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Colusa (COL)?, Fresno (FRE), Glenn (GLE)?, Kern (KRN), Lake (LAK), Lassen (LAS), Monterey (MNT), Santa Clara (SCL), Shasta (SHA), Stanislaus (STA), Tehama (TEH)?, Trinity (TRI), Tulare (TUL)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Alta Sierra (3511865), Auberry (3711914), Bartlett Springs (3912226)?, Beegum (4012237)?, Breckenridge Mtn. (3511845), Burney (4012186), Burney Falls (4112116), Camp Wishon (3611826), Cannell Peak (3511873), Cassel (4012185), Chanchelulla Peak (4012248)?, Chickabally Mtn. (4012236)?, Claraville (3511843), Cold Fork (4012226)?, Cross Mountain (3511832), Dana (4112115), Day (4112123), Democrat Hot Springs (3511856), Dubakella Mtn. (4012342), Elk Creek (3912255)?, Emerald Mtn. (3511833), Eylar Mtn. (3712145), Fairview (3511884), Fouts Springs (3912236)?, Gilmore Peak (3912235)?, Hall Ridge (3912276), Hayfork (4012352), Hogback Ridge (4012184), Hume (3611878), Hyampom (4012354), Hyampom Mtn. (4012364), Isabel Valley (3712135), Jellico (4012173), Johnsondale (3511885), Keene (3511825), Lake Isabella North (3511864), Lake Isabella South (3511854), Lebec (3411877), Lodoga (3912234)?, Loraine (3511834), Lowrey (4012215)?, Miracle Hot Springs (3511855), Monolith (3511813), Mt. Adelaide (3511846), Mt. Boardman (3712144), Mt. Stakes (3712134), Murken Bench (4012174), Newville (3912275)?, Paskenta (3912285)?, Pine Mountain (3511857), Pinyon Mtn. (3511842), Pittville (4112113), Piute Peak (3511844), Platina (4012238)?, Raglin Ridge (4012216)?, Rio Bravo Ranch (3511847), Seaside (3612157), Solyo (3712153), Stonyford (3912245)?, Tehachapi North (3511824), Tehachapi South (3511814), Tomhead Mtn. (4012227)?, Wilbur Springs (3912214), Winters Ridge (3411886), Wren Peak (3611877)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 14
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
79 66 %
Road/trail construction/maint. 37 31%
Grazing 33 27%
Development 26 21%
Non-native plant impacts 23 19%
Other 10 8%
ORV activity 8 6%
Foot traffic/trampling 7 5%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 3 2%
Wood cutting or brush clearing 2 1%
Improper burning regime 2 1%
Logging 1 0%
Mining 1 0%
Erosion/runoff 1 0%
Vandalism/dumping/litter 1 0%

Notes
Previously CRPR 1B.2. Plants from COL, GLE, THE, and southern SHA cos. may be attributable to E. brandegeeae or undescribed taxa. Plants from the southern Sierra differ slightly from northern CA plants and may belong to an undescribed taxon; needs further study. See Madroño 8(3):87 (1945) for original description, and Madroño 55(1):82-87 (2008) for additional taxonomic information.
Threats:

Threatened by vehicles, competition, development, grazing, and road maintenance. A synonym of E. brandegeeae in TJM (1993). See Madroño 8(3):87 (1945) for original description, and Madroño 55(1):82-87 (2008) for additional taxonomic information.
Taxonomy:

A synonym of E. brandegeeae in TJM (1993). 

Selected References

CRPR List Change on 2012-08-23
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 January 2025].