Taxon Report

Thermopsis macrophylla H. & A.

Santa Ynez false lupine

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Thermopsis macrophylla, commonly known as Santa Ynez false lupine, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Fabaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral (disturbed areas, granitic, and sandy), growing at elevations from 425 to 1400 meters. Thermopsis macrophylla is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Thermopsis macrophylla H. & A.
Common Name:	Santa Ynez false lupine
Family:	Fabaceae
Element Code:	PDFAB3Z0E0
USDA Plants Symbol:	THMA2
Synonyms/Other Names:	Thermopsis macrophylla H. & A. var. agnina J.T. Howell

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jun	Apr-Jun
Elevation:	425-1400 (1395-4595)
General Habitats:	Chaparral
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	CR
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_SBBG; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	8
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	3
Unknown (U)	4

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Santa Barbara (SBA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Lake Cachuma (3411958), San Marcos Pass (3411957), Santa Barbara (3411946), Santa Ynez (3412051)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	6
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	6	75 %
Wood cutting or brush clearing	5	62%
Road/trail construction/maint.	4	50%
Dam/Inundation	2	25%
Non-native plant impacts	1	12%
ORV activity	1	12%
Other	1	12%

Notes



See Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 81(4): 719 (1994) for species account.
Threats:
Threatened by fire suppression, non-native plants, recreational activities, and road maintenance.
Taxonomy:
USFWS uses the name T. macrophylla var. agnina. See T. macrophylla var. macrophylla in TJM (1993).

Selected References

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 November 2025].