Taxon Report

Caulanthus amplexicaulis Wats. var. barbarae (J.T. Howell) Munz

Santa Barbara jewelflower

Print Report


© 2017 John B Moule

Taxon Summary

Caulanthus amplexicaulis var. barbarae, commonly known as Santa Barbara jewelflower, is a annual herb in the Brassicaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, and Closed-cone coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 470 to 1220 meters. Caulanthus amplexicaulis var. barbarae is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Caulanthus amplexicaulis Wats. var. barbarae (J.T. Howell) Munz
Common Name:
 Santa Barbara jewelflower
Family: Brassicaceae
Element Code: PDBRA0M012
USDA Plants Symbol: CAAMB
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: May-Jul May-Jul
Elevation: 470-1220 (1540-4005)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Closed-cone coniferous forest
Microhabitat: Serpentine
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1
Global Rank: G4T2
State Rank:
 S2
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status: USFS_S
CRPR Changes:
  • removed from 1B.1 on 2011-07-26

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 11
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 1
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 10

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Santa Barbara (SBA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bald Mountain (3411978), Figueroa Mtn. (3411968), Los Olivos (3412061), Zaca Lake (3412071)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 2
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
1 9 %
Erosion/runoff 1 9%
Grazing 1 9%

Notes
Known from fewer than 5 occurrences in the San Rafael Mtns.  Not in TJM 2. See Leaflets of Western Botany 9:223 (1962) for original description.
Threats:
Potentially threatened by road construction and maintenance, fire suppression, non-native plants, vehicles, mining, and grazing. Possibly threatened by foot traffic and recreational activities.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Proposed Deletion from CRPR 1B.1 (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 28 October 2025].