Taxon Report

Oreocarya roosiorum (Munz) R.B. Kelley, Hasenstab, & M.G. Simpson

bristlecone oreocarya

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Oreocarya roosiorum, commonly known as bristlecone oreocarya, is a perennial herb in the Boraginaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Subalpine coniferous forest (carbonate, and rocky), growing at elevations from 2440 to 3230 meters. Oreocarya roosiorum is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Oreocarya roosiorum (Munz) R.B. Kelley, Hasenstab, & M.G. Simpson
Common Name:	bristlecone oreocarya
Family:	Boraginaceae
Element Code:	PDBOR0A2L0
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:	Cryptantha roosiorum

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Jul	Jun-Jul
Elevation:	2440-3230 (8005-10600)
General Habitats:	Subalpine coniferous forest
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	CR
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	6
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	4
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	2

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Mazourka Peak (3611881)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	1
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	17 %
ORV activity	1	16%

Notes



Threatened by vehicles. See Aliso 3:124-125 (1955) for original description, and Systematic Botany 37(3):738-757 (2012) for revised nomenclature.
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 27 October 2025].