Taxon Report

Dodecahema leptoceras (Gray) Rev. & Hardham

slender-horned spineflower

Print Report


Taxon Summary

Dodecahema leptoceras, commonly known as slender-horned spineflower, is a annual herb in the Polygonaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, and Coastal scrub (alluvial fans), growing at elevations from 200 to 760 meters. Dodecahema leptoceras is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Dodecahema leptoceras (Gray) Rev. & Hardham
Common Name:
slender-horned spineflower
Family: Polygonaceae
Element Code: PDPGN0V010
USDA Plants Symbol: DOLE
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Chorizanthe leptoceras
  • Centrostegia leptoceras Gray

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jun Apr-Jun
Elevation: 200-760 (655-2495)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Coastal scrub
Microhabitat: Sandy
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 42
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 13
   Fair (C) 3
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 15
   Unknown (U) 11
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Los Angeles (LAX), Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Agua Dulce (3411843), Alberhill (3311764), Azusa (3411728), Blackburn Canyon (3311667), Burbank (3411823), Desert Hot Springs (3311685), Devore (3411724), El Monte (3411811), Hemet (3311668)*, Lake Elsinore (3311763)*, Mint Canyon (3411844)*, Mt. Wilson (3411821)*, Newhall (3411845), Oat Mountain (3411835), Ontario (3411716), Pasadena (3411822), Pechanga (3311741), Redlands (3411712), San Bernardino North (3411723)*, San Bernardino South (3411713)*, San Fernando (3411834)*, Sunland (3411833), Vail Lake (3311648), Van Nuys (3411824), White Water (3311686), Yucaipa (3411711)*

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 13
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
31 74 %
Development 20 47%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime 10 23%
Non-native plant impacts 10 23%
ORV activity 10 23%
Vandalism/dumping/litter 8 19%
Other 6 14%
Mining 4 9%
Dam/Inundation 4 9%
Foot traffic/trampling 3 7%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 3 7%
Road/trail construction/maint. 3 7%
Biocides 1 2%
Erosion/runoff 1 2%

Notes

Many historical occurrences lost to urbanization and stream channelization; currently threatened by alteration of fire regimes, development, sand and gravel mining, flood control, foot traffic, proposed reservoir construction, recreational activities, vehicles, and non-native plants. See Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 12:269 (1877) for original description, Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs 2:169-190 (1978) for taxonomic treatment, Phytologia 66(2):83-88 (1989) for revised nomenclature, and MadroƱo 44(3):305 (1997) for discussion of Vail Lake occurrence.
Threats:
Taxonomy:
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 1 February 2025].