Taxon Report

Synthyris missurica (Raf.) Penn. ssp. missurica

kitten-tails

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Synthyris missurica ssp. missurica, commonly known as kitten-tails, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Plantaginaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Lower montane coniferous forest, Subalpine coniferous forest, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 2000 to 2560 meters. Synthyris missurica ssp. missurica is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Synthyris missurica (Raf.) Penn. ssp. missurica
Common Name:	kitten-tails
Family:	Plantaginaceae
Element Code:	PDSCR1W045
USDA Plants Symbol:	SYMIM2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: (May)Jun-Jul(Aug)	(May)Jun-Jul(Aug)
Elevation:	2000-2560 (6560-8400)
General Habitats:	Lower montane coniferous forest, Subalpine coniferous forest, Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Global Rank:	G4G5T4T5
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_BerrySB
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	35
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	10
Fair (C)	2
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	22

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Lassen (LAS), Modoc (MOD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Davis Creek (4112063), Eagle Peak (4112032), Emerson Peak (4112022), Mt. Bidwell (4112082), Payne Peak (4112053), Shields Creek (4112043), Snake Lake (4112021), Soup Creek (4112033), Warren Peak (4112042), Willow Ranch (4112083)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	7
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	18	51 %
Grazing	9	25%
Foot traffic/trampling	8	22%
Logging	7	20%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	4	11%
Road/trail construction/maint.	3	8%
Other	3	8%
Mining	1	2%

Notes



Known in CA only from the Warner Mtns. Potentially threatened by grazing, trampling, and mining. See Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 85:89 (1933) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2026. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 1 April 2026].