Taxon Report

Spermolepis gigantea (Coulter & Rose) Nesom

desert scaleseed

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Spermolepis gigantea, commonly known as desert scaleseed, is a annual herb in the Apiaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from 400 to 400 meters. Spermolepis gigantea is ranked 2B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Spermolepis gigantea (Coulter & Rose) Nesom
Common Name:	desert scaleseed
Family:	Apiaceae
Element Code:	PDAPI05020
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:	Ammoselinum giganteum

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Apr	Mar-Apr
Elevation:	400-400 (1310-1310)
General Habitats:	Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.1
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	SH
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2B.3 to 2B.1 on 2016-03-22 changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


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

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Riverside (RIV)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Hayfield (3311566), Hayfield Spring (3311565)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


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

Notes



Known in CA only from Hayfields Dry Lake; needs field surveys. See Phytoneuron 87:1-49 (2012) for revised nomenclature.
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 5 February 2025].