Taxon Report

Senna covesii (Gray) H. Irwin & Barneby

Cove's cassia

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Taxon Summary

Senna covesii, commonly known as Cove's cassia, is a perennial herb in the Fabaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from 225 to 1295 meters. Senna covesii is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Senna covesii (Gray) H. Irwin & Barneby
Common Name:
 Cove's cassia
Family: Fabaceae
Element Code: PDFAB491X0
USDA Plants Symbol: SECO10
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Cassia covesii

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Jun(Aug) Mar-Jun(Aug)
Elevation: 225-1295 (740-4250)
General Habitats: Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat: Dry, Sandy, Slopes, Washes
Microhabitat Details: Dry, sandy desert washes and slopes

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 2B.2
Global Rank: G5
State Rank:
 S3
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status: SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 55
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 8
   Good (B) 6
   Fair (C) 6
   Poor (D) 1
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 34

Location
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Imperial (IMP), Kern (KRN), Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD), San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Augustine Pass (3311543), Borrego Sink (3311623), Clark Lake NE (3311643), Corn Spring (3311563), Cottonwood Basin (3311568), Cottonwood Spring (3311567), Cow Cove (3511536), Desert Center (3311564), Earthquake Valley (3311614), Edwards (3411788), Hayfield (3311566), Hayfield Spring (3311565), Lion Head Mtn. (3311533), Mohawk Spring (3411447), Monument Peak (3211684), Mopah Peaks (3411437), Mortmar (3311558), Orocopia Canyon (3311557), Pilot Mountain (3311553), Rancho Mirage (3311664), Red Canyon (3311556), Red Cloud Canyon (3311554), Savahia Peak SW (3411436), Tenmile Well (3511438), Toro Peak (3311654), Tubb Canyon (3311624), Valerie (3311652), Viejas Mountain (3211676), Whale Peak (3311613), Whipple Mts. SW (3411434), Whipple Wash (3411433)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 5
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
13 24 %
Road/trail construction/maint. 6 10%
ORV activity 5 9%
Other 4 7%
Erosion/runoff 3 5%
Mining 2 3%

Notes
Need quads for IMP Co. and occurrence near "Turtle Mtns." (SBD Co.). Threatened by vehicles and road maintenance.
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 26 February 2025].