Taxon Report

Aristocapsa insignis (Curran) Rev. & Hardham

Indian Valley spineflower

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Aristocapsa insignis, commonly known as Indian Valley spineflower, is a annual herb in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Cismontane woodland, growing at elevations from 300 to 600 meters. Aristocapsa insignis is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Aristocapsa insignis (Curran) Rev. & Hardham
Common Name:	Indian Valley spineflower
Family:	Polygonaceae
Element Code:	PDPGN0U010
USDA Plants Symbol:	ARIN12
Synonyms/Other Names:	Chorizanthe insignis Centrostegia insignis (Curran) Heller

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: May-Sep	May-Sep
Elevation:	300-600 (985-1970)
General Habitats:	Cismontane woodland
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	5
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	1
Unknown (U)	4

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Monterey (MNT), San Luis Obispo (SLO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bryson (3512171), Camatta Ranch (3512043), Cosio Knob (3612112), La Panza Ranch (3512042), Lime Mountain (3512068), Pebblestone Shut-in (3512161), San Miguel (3512076), Tierra Redonda Mountain (3512078)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	1
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	20 %
Dam/Inundation	1	20%

Notes



See Bulletin of the California Academy of Sciences 1:275 (1885) for original description, Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs 2:169-190 (1978) for taxonomic treatment, and Phytologia 66(2):83-88 (1989) for revised nomenclature and taxonomic treatment.
Threats:
Threatened by development.
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 13 November 2025].