Taxon Report

Calyptridium pulchellum (Eastw.) Hoov.

Mariposa pussypaws

Print Report


Taxon Summary

Calyptridium pulchellum, commonly known as Mariposa pussypaws, is a annual herb in the Montiaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, and Cismontane woodland, growing at elevations from 400 to 1100 meters. Calyptridium pulchellum is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Calyptridium pulchellum (Eastw.) Hoov.
Common Name:
Mariposa pussypaws
Family: Montiaceae
Element Code: PDPOR09060
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Aug Apr-Aug
Elevation: 400-1100 (1310-3610)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Cismontane woodland
Microhabitat: Granitic, Gravelly (sometimes), Sandy (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 9
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 1
   Good (B) 3
   Fair (C) 5
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 0
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Fresno (FRE), Madera (MAD), Mariposa (MPA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Ahwahnee (3711936), Auberry (3711914), Cascadel Point (3711924), Mariposa (3711948), O'Neals (3711926)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 11
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
9 100 %
Non-native plant impacts 5 55%
Road/trail construction/maint. 4 44%
Grazing 4 44%
Development 2 22%
Other 2 22%
Erosion/runoff 1 11%
Foot traffic/trampling 1 11%
Biocides 1 11%
Vandalism/dumping/litter 1 11%
Wood cutting or brush clearing 1 11%
ORV activity 1 11%

Notes

Threatened by development, grazing, non-native plants, and vehicles. See Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 29:79 (1902) for original description, Leaflets of Western Botany 2(13):222-225 (1940) for revised nomenclature, Brittonia 27:197-208 (1975) for taxonomic treatment, and MadroƱo 28(3):188 (1981) for distributional information.
Threats:
Taxonomy:
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 8 February 2025].