Taxon Report

Holocarpha macradenia (DC.) Greene

Santa Cruz tarplant

Print Report


© 2011 Dylan Neubauer

Taxon Summary

Holocarpha macradenia, commonly known as Santa Cruz tarplant, is a annual herb in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Coastal prairie, Coastal scrub, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 10 to 220 meters. Holocarpha macradenia is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Holocarpha macradenia (DC.) Greene
Common Name:
Santa Cruz tarplant
Family: Asteraceae
Element Code: PDAST4X020
USDA Plants Symbol: HOMA
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Oct Jun-Oct
Elevation: 10-220 (35-720)
General Habitats: Coastal prairie, Coastal scrub, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat: Clay (often), Sandy
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 37
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 1
   Good (B) 4
   Fair (C) 8
   Poor (D) 5
   None (X) 16
   Unknown (U) 3
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Alameda (ALA)*, Contra Costa (CCA)*, Marin (MRN)*, Monterey (MNT), Santa Cruz (SCR)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Briones Valley (3712282), Felton (3712211), Hayward (3712261)*, Laurel (3712118), Oakland West (3712273)*, Prunedale (3612176), Richmond (3712283)*, San Rafael (3712285)*, Santa Cruz (3612281), Soquel (3612188), Watsonville East (3612186), Watsonville West (3612187)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 10
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
29 78 %
Development 19 51%
Grazing 12 32%
Non-native plant impacts 11 29%
Other 4 10%
Foot traffic/trampling 4 10%
Road/trail construction/maint. 3 8%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 2 5%
ORV activity 2 5%
Mining 1 2%
Agriculture 1 2%

Notes

All extant CCA Co. occurrences (465B, 466A) are introduced; nearly half have failed. Last remaining natural population in the S.F. Bay Area extirpated by development in 1993. Seriously threatened by urbanization, agriculture, non-native plants, and lack of appropriate ecological disturbance. See Fremontia 5(4):15-16 (1978) for species account.
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].