Taxon Report

Layia carnosa (Nutt.) T. & G.

beach layia

Print Report


© 2007 Aaron Schusteff

Taxon Summary

Layia carnosa, commonly known as beach layia, is a annual herb in the Asteraceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Coastal dunes, and Coastal scrub (sandy), growing at elevations from 0 to 60 meters. Layia carnosa is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Layia carnosa (Nutt.) T. & G.
Common Name:
 beach layia
Family: Asteraceae
Element Code: PDAST5N010
USDA Plants Symbol: LACA4
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Jul Mar-Jul
Elevation: 0-60 (0-195)
General Habitats: Coastal dunes, Coastal scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1
Global Rank: G2
State Rank:
 S2
State List: CE
Fed List: FT
Other Status: SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_SBBG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 25
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 2
   Good (B) 10
   Fair (C) 6
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 4
   Unknown (U) 3

Location
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Humboldt (HUM), Marin (MRN), Monterey (MNT), San Francisco (SFO)*, San Mateo (SMT), Santa Barbara (SBA)*
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Cannibal Island (4012463), Casmalia (3412075), Crannell (4112411)*, Drakes Bay (3812218), Eureka (4012472), Fields Landing (4012462), Hunters Point (3712263), Monterey (3612158), Oakland West (3712273), Orick (4112431), Petrolia (4012433), Point Arguello (3412056)*, Point Bonita (3712275), San Francisco North (3712274)*, San Francisco South (3712264), Surf (3412065), Tomales (3812228), Tyee City (4012482)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 12
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
23 92 %
Non-native plant impacts 19 76%
Foot traffic/trampling 8 32%
ORV activity 6 24%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 5 20%
Grazing 5 20%
Development 5 20%
Road/trail construction/maint. 3 12%
Other 1 4%
Erosion/runoff 1 4%
Feral pigs 1 4%
Military operations 1 4%
Biocides 1 4%

Notes
Reclassified from federally endangered to threatened on 2022-03-31 due to substantial improvements in the species' overall status since its original listing as endangered in 1992. 
Threats:
Threatened by coastal development, foot traffic, vehicles, and non-native plants.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Reclassification of the Endangered Layia carnosa (Beach Layia) to Threatened With Section 4(d) Rule (Federal Register 2022)
Seven Coastal Plants and the Myrtle's Silverspot Butterfly Recovery Plan (USFWS 1998)
Species Status Assessment Report for Beach Layia (Layia carnosa) (USFWS 2018)
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 20 November 2025].