Taxon Report

Cirsium fontinale (Greene) Jeps. var. obispoense J.T. Howell

Chorro Creek bog thistle

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Taxon Summary

Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense, commonly known as Chorro Creek bog thistle, is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Coastal scrub, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 35 to 385 meters. Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Cirsium fontinale (Greene) Jeps. var. obispoense J.T. Howell
Common Name:
Chorro Creek bog thistle
Family: Asteraceae
Element Code: PDAST2E162
USDA Plants Symbol: CIFOO
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: Feb-Jul(Aug-Sep) Feb-Jul(Aug-Sep)
Elevation: 35-385 (115-1265)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Coastal scrub, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat: Seeps, Serpentine
Microhabitat Details: Drainages

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 22
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 9
   Good (B) 5
   Fair (C) 3
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 1
   Unknown (U) 4
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Luis Obispo (SLO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Atascadero (3512046), Cambria (3512151), Lopez Mtn. (3512035), Morro Bay North (3512047), Morro Bay South (3512037), Pebblestone Shut-in (3512161), Pismo Beach (3512026), San Luis Obispo (3512036)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 13
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
19 86 %
Foot traffic/trampling 10 45%
Non-native plant impacts 9 40%
Other 8 36%
Grazing 7 31%
Development 5 22%
Erosion/runoff 4 18%
Feral pigs 2 9%
Agriculture 2 9%
Road/trail construction/maint. 2 9%
Surface water diversion 2 9%
Biocides 1 4%
Improper burning regime 1 4%
Military operations 1 4%

Notes

Threatened by grazing, development, and proposed water diversions. Possibly threatened by foot traffic, and non-native plants.  See Leaflets of Western Botany 2:71 (1938) for original description, and Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 115(3):156-175 (2016) for status information.
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 5 February 2025].