Taxon Report

Eriastrum luteum (Benth.) Mason

yellow-flowered eriastrum

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Taxon Summary

Eriastrum luteum, commonly known as yellow-flowered eriastrum, is a annual herb in the Polemoniaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Broadleafed upland forest, Chaparral, and Cismontane woodland, growing at elevations from 290 to 1000 meters. Eriastrum luteum is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Eriastrum luteum (Benth.) Mason
Common Name:
yellow-flowered eriastrum
Family: Polemoniaceae
Element Code: PDPLM03080
USDA Plants Symbol: ERLU3
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: May-Jun May-Jun
Elevation: 290-1000 (950-3280)
General Habitats: Broadleafed upland forest, Chaparral, Cismontane woodland
Microhabitat: Gravelly (sometimes), Sandy (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 34
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 5
   Good (B) 4
   Fair (C) 3
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 1
   Unknown (U) 21
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Monterey (MNT), San Luis Obispo (SLO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Adelaida (3512067), Alder Peak (3512183), Atascadero (3512046), Bear Canyon (3612113), Bryson (3512171), Burnett Peak (3512172), Hames Valley (3512088), Jolon (3512182), Lime Mountain (3512068), Pebblestone Shut-in (3512161), Santa Margarita (3512045), Santa Margarita Lake (3512034), Templeton (3512056), Tierra Redonda Mountain (3512078), Williams Hill (3512181), Wilson Corner (3512044)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 11
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
16 47 %
Other 6 17%
Road/trail construction/maint. 3 8%
Wood cutting or brush clearing 3 8%
Development 3 8%
ORV activity 3 8%
Grazing 2 5%
Military operations 2 5%
Mining 1 2%
Non-native plant impacts 1 2%
Dam/Inundation 1 2%
Erosion/runoff 1 2%

Notes

Threatened by vehicles and grazing. Possibly threatened by development. See MadroƱo 8:81 (1945) for revised nomenclature.
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 30 January 2025].