Taxon Report

Funastrum utahense (Engelm.) Liede & Meve

Utah vine milkweed

Print Report


© 2004 James M. Andre

Taxon Summary

Funastrum utahense, commonly known as Utah vine milkweed, is a perennial herb in the Apocynaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Mojavean desert scrub, and Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from 100 to 1435 meters. Funastrum utahense is ranked 4.2, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Funastrum utahense (Engelm.) Liede & Meve
Common Name:
 Utah vine milkweed
Family: Apocynaceae
Element Code: PDASC050M0
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Cynanchum utahense

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: (Mar)Apr-Jun(Sep-Oct) (Mar)Apr-Jun(Sep-Oct)
Elevation: 100-1435 (330-4710)
General Habitats: Mojavean desert scrub, Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat: Gravelly (sometimes), Sandy (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 4.2
Global Rank: G4
State Rank:
 S4
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 4.3 to 4.2 on 2009-03-10

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 0
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 0

Location
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Imperial (IMP), Inyo (INY), Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD), San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Arica Mountains (3411418), Ash Hill (3411661), Big Bear City (3411637), Big Maria Mts. NW (3311486), Bighorn Canyon (3411635), Bitter Spring (3511624), Blind Hills (3411573), Bristol Lake SW (3411536), Carrizo Mtn. (3211671), Chuckwalla Spring (3311542), Clarks Pass (3411515), Coyote Wells (3211568), Daggett (3411678), Dale Lake (3411526), Deadman Lake SE (3411631), Deadman Lake SW (3411632), Desert Center (3311564), Earthquake Valley (3311614), Emerson Lake (3411644), Fenner Hills (3411582), Goat Mountain (3411633), Goffs (3411581), Havasu Lake (3411444), Hayfield (3311566), Hector (3411674), Hidalgo Mtn. (3411643), Indian Cove (3411612), In-ko-pah Gorge (3211661), Ivanpah Lake (3511554), Joshua (3511534), Joshua Tree North (3411623), Landers (3411634), Lavic Lake (3411663), Lead Mountain SW (3411538), Ludlow SE (3411651), McCoy Peak (3311467), McCoy Wash (3311466), Melville Lake (3411645), Morgans Well (3411652), Needles (3411475), Needles SW (3411476), Nipton (3511543), Old Woman Springs (3411646), Painted Gorge (3211578), Pinto Mountain (3311587), Plaster City (3211577), Ranchita (3311625), Rattlesnake Canyon (3411636), Roosevelt Mine (3311457), Sidewinder Well (3311562), Silver Bell Mine (3411665), Sleeping Beauty (3411673), Stump Spring, Nev. (3511587), Sunfair (3411622), Sunshine Peak (3411664), Sweeney Pass (3211672), Thumb Peak (3311447), Troy Lake (3411675), Twentynine Palms (3411621), Valley Mtn. (3411528), Victory Pass (3311574), West of Soda Lake (3511622)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 0
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
0 0 %

Notes
Threatened by solar energy development. Potentially threatened by vehicles.
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 30 October 2025].