Taxon Report

Aristocapsa insignis (Curran) Rev. & Hardham

Indian Valley spineflower

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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
Threatened by development. 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:
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 5 February 2025].