Taxon Report

Mertensia cusickii Piper

Toiyabe bluebells

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Mertensia cusickii, commonly known as Toiyabe bluebells, is a perennial herb in the Boraginaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Great Basin scrub, and Meadows and seeps, growing at elevations from 1495 to 2500 meters. Mertensia cusickii is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Mertensia cusickii Piper
Common Name:	Toiyabe bluebells
Family:	Boraginaceae
Element Code:	PDBOR0N0M0
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Jul	Jun-Jul
Elevation:	1495-2500 (4905-8205)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub, Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Global Rank:	G4?
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	6
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	6

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Lassen (LAS), Modoc (MOD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Boot Lake (4112012), Eagle Peak (4112032), Soup Creek (4112033), Sugar Hill (4112073)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	%

Notes




Threats:
Threatened by grazing.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 29:643 (1902)

Mertensia cusickii profile for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2018)

USFS Potential Species of Conservation Concern Profile

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 26 February 2025].