Taxon Report

Polemonium chartaceum Mason

Mason's sky pilot

Print Report


Taxon Summary

Polemonium chartaceum, commonly known as Mason's sky pilot, is a perennial herb in the Polemoniaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Alpine boulder and rock field, and Subalpine coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 3290 to 4270 meters. Polemonium chartaceum is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Polemonium chartaceum Mason
Common Name:
Mason's sky pilot
Family: Polemoniaceae
Element Code: PDPLM0E0T0
USDA Plants Symbol: POCH3
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Aug Jun-Aug
Elevation: 3290-4270 (10795-14010)
General Habitats: Alpine boulder and rock field, Subalpine coniferous forest
Microhabitat: Granitic, Rocky, Serpentine, Volcanic (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 12
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 3
   Good (B) 2
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 7
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Mono (MNO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Boundary Peak (3711873), Juniper Mtn. (3711862), Mt. Patterson (3811943), White Mtn. Peak (3711863)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 3
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
2 17 %
ORV activity 1 8%
Other 1 8%
Road/trail construction/maint. 1 8%

Notes

On watch list in NV. Formerly included plants from the Klamath Ranges, which are now recognized as P. eddyense. Possibly related to both P. eximium and P. elegans. See A Manual of the Flowering Plants of California, p. 783 (1925) by W.L. Jepson for original description, and MadroƱo 60(3):243-248 (2013) for revised circumscription.
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 2 February 2025].