Taxon Report

Phacelia damnationensis Kierstead, Lindstrand & M.J. Lenz

Damnation Pass phacelia

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Phacelia damnationensis, commonly known as Damnation Pass phacelia, is a perennial herb in the Hydrophyllaceae that is found only in California. 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:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S
CRPR Changes:	added to 1B.3 on 2024-03-07

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

Location


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 18 November 2025].