Taxon Report

Draba asterophora Pays. var. macrocarpa C.L. Hitchc.

Cup Lake draba

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Draba asterophora var. macrocarpa, commonly known as Cup Lake draba, is a perennial herb in the Brassicaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Subalpine coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 2500 to 2815 meters. Draba asterophora var. macrocarpa is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Draba asterophora Pays. var. macrocarpa C.L. Hitchc.
Common Name:	Cup Lake draba
Family:	Brassicaceae
Element Code:	PDBRA110D2
USDA Plants Symbol:	DRASM
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jul-Aug(Sep)	Jul-Aug(Sep)
Elevation:	2500-2815 (8205-9235)
General Habitats:	Subalpine coniferous forest
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G2T1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	USFS_S
CRPR Changes:	changed from 1B.3 to 1B.1 on 2013-03-07

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	4
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	2
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	1

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
El Dorado (ELD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Echo Lake (3812071)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	4
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	2	50 %
Foot traffic/trampling	2	50%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	25%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	25%
Erosion/runoff	1	25%

Notes



Known from only near Cup Lake and Saucer Lake below Ralston Pk. Potentially threatened by foot traffic. A synonym of D. asterophora in TJM 2. See Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 11:64 (1941) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Deletion on 2013-03-07

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 7 December 2025].