Taxon Report

Plagiobothrys torreyi (Gray) Gray var. torreyi

Yosemite popcornflower

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Plagiobothrys torreyi var. torreyi, commonly known as Yosemite popcornflower, is a annual herb in the Boraginaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Lower montane coniferous forest, and Meadows and seeps, growing at elevations from 1200 to 1370 meters. Plagiobothrys torreyi var. torreyi is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Plagiobothrys torreyi (Gray) Gray var. torreyi
Common Name:	Yosemite popcornflower
Family:	Boraginaceae
Element Code:	PDBOR0V152
USDA Plants Symbol:	PLTOT
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jun	Apr-Jun
Elevation:	1200-1370 (3935-4495)
General Habitats:	Lower montane coniferous forest, Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G4T3Q
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_SBBG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	12
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	11

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Fresno (FRE), Mariposa (MPA), Tuolumne (TUO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
El Capitan (3711966), El Portal (3711967), Half Dome (3711965), Huntington Lake (3711922), Kaiser Peak (3711932), Lake Eleanor (3711987), Shaver Lake (3711913), Wawona (3711956), Yosemite Falls (3711975)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	3
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	8 %
Foot traffic/trampling	1	8%
Other	1	8%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	8%

Notes



Known only from the Yosemite Valley. Threatened by foot traffic and recreational activities. Taxonomic status of vars. torreyi and diffusus need research. See Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 10:58 (1874) for original description and 20:284 (1885) 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 13 November 2025].