Taxon Report

Chloropyron tecopense (Munz & J.C. Roos) Tank & J.M. Egger

Tecopa bird's-beak

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Chloropyron tecopense, commonly known as Tecopa bird's-beak, is a annual herb (hemiparasitic) in the Orobanchaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Meadows and seeps, and Mojavean desert scrub, growing at elevations from 60 to 900 meters. Chloropyron tecopense is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Chloropyron tecopense (Munz & J.C. Roos) Tank & J.M. Egger
Common Name:	Tecopa bird's-beak
Family:	Orobanchaceae
Element Code:	PDSCR0J0Q0
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:	Cordylanthus tecopensis

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb (hemiparasitic)
Blooming Period: Jul-Oct	Jul-Oct
Elevation:	60-900 (195-2955)
General Habitats:	Meadows and seeps, Mojavean desert scrub
Microhabitat:	Alkaline, Mesic
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	6
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	3
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	2

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY), San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bole Spring (3611633)*, Old Ibex Pass (3511664), Resting Spring (3511682), Shoshone (3511683), Tecopa (3511672)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	10
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	5	83 %
Other	4	66%
Development	3	50%
Non-native plant impacts	2	33%
ORV activity	2	33%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	1	16%
Waterway bank protection/maintenance	1	16%
Foot traffic/trampling	1	16%
Groundwater pumping	1	16%
Mining	1	16%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	1	16%

Notes



See Aliso 3(2):111-129 (1955) for original description.
Threats:
Possibly threatened by hydrological alterations. Threatened in NV.
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 1 July 2025].