Taxon Report

Calyptridium arizonicum (J.T.Howell) M.G.Simpson, M.Silveira, & Guilliams

Arizona pussypaws

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Taxon Summary

Calyptridium arizonicum, commonly known as Arizona pussypaws, is a annual herb in the Montiaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from 610 to 790 meters. Calyptridium arizonicum is ranked 2B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Calyptridium arizonicum (J.T.Howell) M.G.Simpson, M.Silveira, & Guilliams
Common Name:	Arizona pussypaws
Family:	Montiaceae
Element Code:	PDPOR09051
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Apr	Mar-Apr
Elevation:	610-790 (2000-2590)
General Habitats:	Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat:	Metamorphic, Washes
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.1
Global Rank:	G3?
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.1 to 2B.1 on 2013-06-12 added to 2.1 on 2011-08-17

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	2
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	0

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Earthquake Valley (3311614)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	2
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	2	100 %
Foot traffic/trampling	2	100%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	2	100%

Notes



Discovered in CA in 2004; known in CA from fewer than 5 occurrences in the vicinity of the North Pinyon Mtns. in Anza-Borrego Desert SP. Threatened by vehicles. Potentially threatened by foot traffic and recreational activities. Not in The Jepson Manual (1993). See C. parryi var. arizonicum in TJM 2. See Leaflets of Western Botany 4(8):214-216 (1945) for original description, and Madroño 57(3):145-160 (2010) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Proposed Addition to CRPR 2.1, G2G3 / S1 (2011)

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].