Taxon Report

Brodiaea pallida Hoov.

Chinese Camp brodiaea

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Brodiaea pallida, commonly known as Chinese Camp brodiaea, is a perennial bulbiferous herb in the Themidaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Cismontane woodland, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 165 to 385 meters. Brodiaea pallida is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Brodiaea pallida Hoov.
Common Name:	Chinese Camp brodiaea
Family:	Themidaceae
Element Code:	PMLIL0C0C0
USDA Plants Symbol:	BRPA2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial bulbiferous herb
Blooming Period: May-Jun	May-Jun
Elevation:	165-385 (540-1265)
General Habitats:	Cismontane woodland, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat:	Serpentine (often)
Microhabitat Details:	vernal streambeds

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	CE
Fed List:	FT
Other Status:	IUCN_EN
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	5
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	2
Fair (C)	2
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	0

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Calaveras (CAL), Tuolumne (TUO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Chinese Camp (3712074), Copperopolis (3712086), New Melones Dam (3712085)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	7
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	2	40 %
Development	2	40%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	40%
Erosion/runoff	1	20%
Grazing	1	20%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	1	20%
Biocides	1	20%
Dam/Inundation	1	20%

Notes



Known from only two occurrences near Chinese Camp. Part of one occurrence destroyed by construction in 1982; remainder threatened by residential development. Hybridizes with B. elegans ssp. elegans. See Leaflets of Western Botany 2:129-130 (1938) for original description.
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 24 October 2025].