Taxon Report

Ericameria ophitidis (J.T. Howell) G. Nesom

serpentine goldenbush

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Ericameria ophitidis, commonly known as serpentine goldenbush, is a perennial shrub in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, and Lower montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 980 to 1737 meters. Ericameria ophitidis is ranked 4.3, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Ericameria ophitidis (J.T. Howell) G. Nesom
Common Name:	serpentine goldenbush
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST3L0S0
USDA Plants Symbol:	EROP2
Synonyms/Other Names:	Haplopappus ophitidis (J.T. Howell) Keck

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial shrub
Blooming Period: Jun-Aug	Jun-Aug
Elevation:	980-1737 (3215-5700)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Lower montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Serpentine (usually)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.3
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S4
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


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

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Shasta (SHA), Tehama (TEH), Trinity (TRI)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Beegum (4012237), Black Rock Mtn. (4012321), Dubakella Mtn. (4012342), Forest Glen (4012333), Hayfork Summit (4012351), North Yolla Bolly (4012228), Platina (4012238), Pony Buck Peak (4012331), Smoky Creek (4012332), Wildwood (4012341)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	0 %

Notes



See Leaflets of Western Botany 6:85 (1950) for original description, and Phytologia 68(2):144-155 (1990) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

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 4 November 2025].