Taxon Report

Cardamine pachystigma (Wats.) Roll. var. dissectifolia (Detl.) Roll.

dissected-leaved toothwort

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Taxon Summary

Cardamine pachystigma var. dissectifolia, commonly known as dissected-leaved toothwort, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Brassicaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, and Lower montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 255 to 2100 meters. Cardamine pachystigma var. dissectifolia is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Cardamine pachystigma (Wats.) Roll. var. dissectifolia (Detl.) Roll.
Common Name:
dissected-leaved toothwort
Family: Brassicaceae
Element Code: PDBRA0K1B1
USDA Plants Symbol: CAPAD2
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Dentaria pachystigma var. dissectifolia

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Feb-May Feb-May
Elevation: 255-2100 (835-6890)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Lower montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat: Rocky, Serpentine (usually)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2
Global Rank: G3G5T2Q
State Rank:
S2
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status: BLM_S
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 3 to 1B.2 on 2012-04-10

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 19
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 3
   Fair (C) 9
   Poor (D) 2
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 5
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Butte (BUT)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Berry Creek (3912164), Cherokee (3912165), Clipper Mills (3912152), Cohasset (3912186), Paradise East (3912175), Paradise West (3912176), Pulga (3912174), Stirling City (3912185)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 4
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
5 26 %
Road/trail construction/maint. 4 21%
ORV activity 2 10%
Biocides 1 5%
Improper burning regime 1 5%

Notes

Previously on List 3 due to lack of location, rarity, and endangerment information; location information still needed. Threatened by non-native plants, road and trail maintenance, vehicles, and alteration of fire regimes. Many collections lack tubers, which aid in identification. A synonym of C. californica in TJM 2. See American Journal of Botany 23:575 (1936) for original description, and Harvard Papers in Botany 4:43-48 (1993) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:
Threatened by non-native plants, road and trail maintenance, vehicles, and alteration of fire regimes.
Taxonomy:
Many collections lack tubers, which aid in identification. A synonym of C. californica in TJM 2.

Selected References

Proposal to keep as CRPR 3, G3G5T3Q / S3 (2012)
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 27 January 2025].