Taxon Report

Cordylanthus eremicus (Cov. & Mort.) Munz ssp. kernensis Chuang & Heckard

Kern Plateau bird's-beak

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Cordylanthus eremicus ssp. kernensis, commonly known as Kern Plateau bird's-beak, is a annual herb (hemiparasitic) in the Orobanchaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Great Basin scrub, Joshua tree "woodland", Pinyon and juniper woodland, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1675 to 3000 meters. Cordylanthus eremicus ssp. kernensis is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Cordylanthus eremicus (Cov. & Mort.) Munz ssp. kernensis Chuang & Heckard
Common Name:	Kern Plateau bird's-beak
Family:	Orobanchaceae
Element Code:	PDSCR0J043
USDA Plants Symbol:	COERK
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb (hemiparasitic)
Blooming Period: (May)Jul-Sep	(May)Jul-Sep
Elevation:	1675-3000 (5495-9845)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub, Joshua tree "woodland", Pinyon and juniper woodland, Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Global Rank:	G3T2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	14
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	3
Fair (C)	2
Poor (D)	1
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	7

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY), Kern (KRN), Tulare (TUL)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bonita Meadows (3611813), Breckenridge Mtn. (3511845), Cirque Peak (3611842), Crag Peak (3611812), Haiwee Pass (3611821), Lamont Peak (3511871), Miracle Hot Springs (3511855), Monache Mountain (3611822), Olancha (3611831), Templeton Mtn. (3611832)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	5
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	5	36 %
Foot traffic/trampling	2	14%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	2	14%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	14%
ORV activity	1	7%
Other	1	7%

Notes



Known only from the Kern Plateau region. Possibly threatened by trail maintenance, foot traffic, and vehicles. See Systematic Botany Monographs 10:89-92 (1986) for original description.
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 24 December 2025].