Taxon Report

Zeltnera namophila (Reveal, C.R. Broome & Beatley) G. Mans.

spring-loving centaury

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Zeltnera namophila, commonly known as spring-loving centaury, is a annual herb in the Gentianaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Meadows and seeps, growing at elevations from 400 to 640 meters. Zeltnera namophila is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Zeltnera namophila (Reveal, C.R. Broome & Beatley) G. Mans.
Common Name:	spring-loving centaury
Family:	Gentianaceae
Element Code:	PDGEN020A0
USDA Plants Symbol:	ZENA2
Synonyms/Other Names:	Centaurium namophilum Reveal, Broome & Beatley var. namophilum

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Jul-Sep	Jul-Sep
Elevation:	400-640 (1310-2100)
General Habitats:	Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:	desert springs

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	FT
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	10
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	3
Unknown (U)	7

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bole Spring (3611633), Death Valley Junction (3611634), Resting Spring (3511682), Shoshone (3511683), Tecopa (3511672)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	5
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	10	100 %
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	10	100%
Groundwater pumping	10	100%
Foot traffic/trampling	7	70%
ORV activity	6	60%
Development	3	30%

Notes




Threats:
Threatened by groundwater pumping, feral horses, off-highway vehicles.
Taxonomy:
Possibly intergrading with Z. exaltata outside of Ash Meadows region; needs further study. Original spelling ‘namophila’ may be correctable to ‘namatophila’ (International Plant Names Index).

Selected References

Proposed Addition to California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, G2Q / S1 (2022)

Torrey Botanical Club 100(6): 353 (1973)

Taxon 53(3): 732 (2004)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 11 November 2025].