Taxon Report

Diplacus cusickioides Nesom

Cusick's monkeyflower

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Diplacus cusickioides, commonly known as Cusick's monkeyflower, is a annual herb in the Phrymaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Great Basin scrub, and Lower montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 600 to 1830 meters. Diplacus cusickioides is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Diplacus cusickioides Nesom
Common Name:	Cusick's monkeyflower
Family:	Phrymaceae
Element Code:	PDSCR220E0
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: May-Aug	May-Aug
Elevation:	600-1830 (1970-6005)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub, Lower montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Gravelly, Roadsides, Scree, Volcanic
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Global Rank:	G4G5
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	8
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	7

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Modoc (MOD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Eagle Peak (4112032), Hermit Butte (4112037), Payne Peak (4112053), Shields Creek (4112043), Soup Creek (4112033), Warren Peak (4112042)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	2
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	2	25 %
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	1	12%
Grazing	1	12%

Notes



Known in CA only from the southern Warner Mtns. Previously included within D. cusickii, which is now recognized as a narrow endemic primarily of Malheur Co. OR. See Phytoneuron 2013-65:1-18 (2013) for original description and distinction from D. cusickii.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

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 25 October 2025].