Taxon Report

Menodora spinescens A. Gray var. mohavensis Steyerm.

Mojave menodora

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Menodora spinescens var. mohavensis, commonly known as Mojave menodora, is a perennial deciduous shrub in the Oleaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Mojavean desert scrub, growing at elevations from 690 to 2000 meters. Menodora spinescens var. mohavensis is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Menodora spinescens A. Gray var. mohavensis Steyerm.
Common Name:	Mojave menodora
Family:	Oleaceae
Element Code:	PDOLE09061
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial deciduous shrub
Blooming Period: Apr-May	Apr-May
Elevation:	690-2000 (2265-6560)
General Habitats:	Mojavean desert scrub
Microhabitat:	Gravelly, Rocky, Slopes
Microhabitat Details:	Andesite gravel, rocky hillsides, canyons

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G4T2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:	added to 1B.2 on 2011-08-17

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	13
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	3
Fair (C)	3
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	6

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Barstow (3411781), Barstow SE (3411771), Dale Lake (3411526), Grand View Mine (3411657), Minneola (3411677), Nebo (3411688), Ord Mountain (3411667), Queen Mtn. (3411611), Silver Bell Mine (3411665), West Ord Mountain (3411668), White Horse Mtn. (3411658)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	3
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	3	23 %
Development	2	15%
Landfill	1	7%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	7%

Notes



Known from fewer than twenty occurrences. Need quads for INY Co. Threatened by wind energy development. Potentially threatened by vehicles. Not in The Jepson Manual (1993). See Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 19:78-176 (1932) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2011-08-17

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].