Taxon Report

Phacelia damnationensis Kierstead, Lindstrand & M.J. Lenz

Damnation Pass phacelia

Print Report


© 2023 Julie Kierstead Nelson

Species Description:
Phacelia damnationensis, commonly known as Damnation Pass phacelia, is a perennial herb in the Hydrophyllaceae that is . It occurs within Lower montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1005 to 1440 meters. Phacelia damnationensis is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

  Classification

Scientific Name:
Phacelia damnationensis Kierstead, Lindstrand & M.J. Lenz
Common Name:
Damnation Pass phacelia
Family: Hydrophyllaceae
Element Code: PDHYD0C750
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Sep Jun-Sep
Elevation: 1005-1440 (3295-4725)
General Habitats: Lower montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat: Gravelly, Metamorphic, Openings, Roadsides, Rocky, Sandstone, Shale, Talus
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 11
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 9
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 2
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Shasta (SHA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bohemotash Mtn. (4012274), Damnation Peak (4012285), Schell Mtn. (4012275), Tombstone Mtn. (4112213), Whiskeytown (4012265)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 5
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
7 64 %
Improper burning regime 6 54%
Logging 6 54%
ORV activity 1 9%
Road/trail construction/maint. 1 9%
Wood cutting or brush clearing 1 9%

Notes

Threats:
Possibly threatened by logging, vehicles, road construction, road maintenance, and recreational activities, though appears to tolerate some disturbance caused by these factors.
Taxonomy:
Corolla color (cream to apple-green with occasional lavender tinge) similar to P. procera which differs in having stems erect and 0.5–2 m high (vs. decumbent to ascending and 0.3–0.9 m high) with leaf-blades attenuate to auriculate (vs. truncate to subcordate).  Other related species (P. bolanderi, P. hydrophylloides) are allopatric.

Selected References

Proposed Addition to CRPR 1B.3, G2/S2 (2024)
Madroño 69(4): 341–348 (2023)
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 20 January 2025].