Taxon Report

Acmispon cytisoides (Benth.) Brouillet

Bentham's broom

Print Report

Keir Morse

Taxon Summary

Acmispon cytisoides, commonly known as Bentham's broom, is a perennial herb in the Fabaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal bluff scrub, Coastal dunes, Coastal prairie, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 0 to 980 meters. Acmispon cytisoides is ranked 4.2, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Acmispon cytisoides (Benth.) Brouillet
Common Name:	Bentham's broom
Family:	Fabaceae
Element Code:	PDFAB2A070
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: (Feb)Mar-Jul(Nov)	(Feb)Mar-Jul(Nov)
Elevation:	0-980 (0-3215)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal bluff scrub, Coastal dunes, Coastal prairie, Coastal scrub
Microhabitat:	Metamorphic (sometimes), Openings, Rocky, Sandy, Scree, Serpentine (sometimes), Talus (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.2
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	added to 4.2 on 2024-09-26

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: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


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

Notes



Usually in openings in immediate coastal habitat, including bluffs, rocky slopes, and roadcuts (sometimes serpentine, metamorphic, talus, or sandy soils) with a variety of vegetation types, including dunes, maritime chaparral, coastal sage scrub, coastal prairie, and open Pinus radiata forest. Highest elevations above 900 meters are in high coastal mountains within 2 miles of the Pacific Ocean.
Threats:
Threatened by development and urbanization, potentially threatened by recreational activities, foot traffic, road maintenance, road construction, and hybridization.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Proposed addition to CRPR 4.2, G3 / S3 (2024)

The Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 17: 363–368 (1835)

Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 2: 387–394 (2008)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 24 October 2025].