Taxon Report

Hulsea vestita Gray ssp. pygmaea (Gray) Wilken

pygmy hulsea

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Hulsea vestita ssp. pygmaea, commonly known as pygmy hulsea, is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Alpine boulder and rock field, and Subalpine coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 2835 to 3900 meters. Hulsea vestita ssp. pygmaea is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Hulsea vestita Gray ssp. pygmaea (Gray) Wilken
Common Name:	pygmy hulsea
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST4Z077
USDA Plants Symbol:	HUVEP2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Oct	Jun-Oct
Elevation:	2835-3900 (9300-12795)
General Habitats:	Alpine boulder and rock field, Subalpine coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Granitic, Gravelly
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Global Rank:	G5T1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	USFS_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


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

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD), Tulare (TUL)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Mineral King (3611845), Moonridge (3411627), San Gorgonio Mtn. (3411617)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	2
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	3	75 %
Foot traffic/trampling	3	75%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	2	50%

Notes



Potentially threatened by recreational activities. Similar plants from other areas appear to be intermediates with ssp. vestita or ssp. parryi. See Synoptical Flora of North America 1(2):343 (1884) for original description, Aliso 7(4):413 (1972) for revised nomenclature, and Brittonia 27(3):242 (1975) for taxonomic treatment.
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 10 July 2025].