Taxon Report

Limnanthes vinculans Ornduff

Sebastopol meadowfoam

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© 2015 Vernon Smith

Taxon Summary

Limnanthes vinculans, commonly known as Sebastopol meadowfoam, is a annual herb in the Limnanthaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Meadows and seeps, Valley and foothill grassland, and Vernal pools, growing at elevations from 15 to 305 meters. Limnanthes vinculans is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Limnanthes vinculans Ornduff
Common Name:
 Sebastopol meadowfoam
Family: Limnanthaceae
Element Code: PDLIM02090
USDA Plants Symbol: LIVI3
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-May Apr-May
Elevation: 15-305 (50-1000)
General Habitats: Meadows and seeps, Valley and foothill grassland, Vernal pools
Microhabitat: Vernally Mesic
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1
Global Rank: G1
State Rank:
 S1
State List: CE
Fed List: FE
Other Status: SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_UCBG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 46
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 2
   Good (B) 12
   Fair (C) 6
   Poor (D) 2
   None (X) 8
   Unknown (U) 16

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Napa (NAP)?, Sonoma (SON)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Calistoga (3812255), Camp Meeker (3812248)*, Cotati (3812236), Healdsburg (3812257), Mount St. Helena (3812266), Santa Rosa (3812246), Sebastopol (3812247), Two Rock (3812237), Yountville (3812243)?

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 14
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
41 89 %
Non-native plant impacts 22 47%
Development 16 34%
Grazing 16 34%
Agriculture 14 30%
Other 7 15%
ORV activity 4 8%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime 4 8%
Surface water diversion 4 8%
Disking 3 6%
Erosion/runoff 2 4%
Road/trail construction/maint. 2 4%
Biocides 1 2%
Vandalism/dumping/litter 1 2%
Wood cutting or brush clearing 1 2%

Notes
Only NAP Co. occurrence (500A) may be introduced. Threatened by urbanization, agriculture, grazing, non-native plants, and vehicles. Possibly threatened by disking and hydrological alterations. See Brittonia 21:11-14 (1969) for original description.
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 7 November 2025].