Taxon Report

Asarum marmoratum Piper

marbled wild-ginger

Print Report


© 2021 Scot Loring

Taxon Summary

Asarum marmoratum, commonly known as marbled wild-ginger, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Aristolochiaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Lower montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 200 to 1800 meters. Asarum marmoratum is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Asarum marmoratum Piper
Common Name:
marbled wild-ginger
Family: Aristolochiaceae
Element Code: PDARI02070
USDA Plants Symbol: ASMA8
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Aug Apr-Aug
Elevation: 200-1800 (655-5905)
General Habitats: Lower montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank: 2B.3
Global Rank: G4?
State Rank:
S2
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status: SB_UCSC
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 11
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 2
   Poor (D) 1
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 8
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Del Norte (DNT), Siskiyou (SIS)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Takilma (4212315), Broken Rib Mtn. (4112386), Polar Bear Mtn. (4112385), Shelly Creek Ridge (4112387)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 2
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
2 18 %
Logging 2 18%
Road/trail construction/maint. 1 9%

Notes

Threats:
Possibly threatened by logging. 
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 29:99 (1916). 
Brittonia 42(1):33-37 (1990)
Asarum marmoratum profile for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2022).
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].