Taxon Report

Benitoa occidentalis (H.M.Hall) D.D. Keck

western lessingia

Print Report

Species Description:
Benitoa occidentalis, commonly known as western lessingia, is a annual herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Coastal scrub, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 450 to 1070 meters. Benitoa occidentalis is ranked 4.3, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Benitoa occidentalis (H.M.Hall) D.D. Keck
Common Name:	western lessingia
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST15010
USDA Plants Symbol:	BEOC
Synonyms/Other Names:	Lessingia occidentalis

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: May-Nov	May-Nov
Elevation:	450-1070 (1475-3510)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Coastal scrub, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:	Clay (sometimes), Serpentine (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.3
Global Rank:	G3G4
State Rank:	S3S4
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


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

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Fresno (FRE), Monterey (MNT), San Benito (SBT)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Curry Mountain (3612014), Hepsedam Peak (3612037), Hernandez Reservoir (3612047), Idria (3612046), Joaquin Rocks (3612034), Llanada (3612058), Lonoak (3612038), Monarch Peak (3612027), Panoche (3612057), Parkfield (3512084), Priest Valley (3612026), Rock Spring Peak (3612048), San Benito Mtn. (3612036), Slack Canyon (3612016), Smith Mountain (3612015), The Dark Hole (3512083)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	0 %

Notes



See Novon 2(3):213-214 (1992) 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 15 January 2025].