Taxon Report

Oreostemma elatum (Greene) Greene

tall alpine-aster

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Oreostemma elatum, commonly known as tall alpine-aster, is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Bogs and fens, Meadows and seeps, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1005 to 2100 meters. Oreostemma elatum is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Oreostemma elatum (Greene) Greene
Common Name:	tall alpine-aster
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDASTEA020
USDA Plants Symbol:	OREL4
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Aug	Jun-Aug
Elevation:	1005-2100 (3295-6890)
General Habitats:	Bogs and fens, Meadows and seeps, Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Mesic
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_UCSC; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	29
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	3
Good (B)	13
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	1
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	12

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Butte (BUT), Lassen (LAS), Plumas (PLU), Sierra (SIE), Tehama (TEH)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Belden (4012113), Bucks Lake (3912182), Calpine (3912064), Canyondam (4012121), Clio (3912065), Crescent Mills (4012018), Gold Lake (3912066), Greenville (4012028), Haypress Valley (3912055), Jonesville (4012114), Meadow Valley (3912181), Moonlight Peak (4012027), Quincy (3912088), Reading Peak (4012144), Sattley (3912054), Taylorsville (4012017), Twain (4012111), Westwood West (4012131)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	7
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	10	34 %
Logging	5	17%
Road/trail construction/maint.	4	13%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	3	10%
Foot traffic/trampling	1	3%
Grazing	1	3%
Non-native plant impacts	1	3%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	1	3%

Notes



Threatened by grazing and hydrological alteration. See Pittonia 3:147 (1896) for original description and 4:224 (1900) for revised nomenclature, and Phytologia 74(4):305-316 (1993) 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 28 June 2025].