Taxon Report

Lepidium flavum Torr. var. felipense C.L. Hitchc.

Blair Valley pepper-grass

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Taxon Summary

Lepidium flavum var. felipense, commonly known as Blair Valley pepper-grass, is a annual herb in the Brassicaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Pinyon and juniper woodland, and Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from 455 to 840 meters. Lepidium flavum var. felipense is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Lepidium flavum Torr. var. felipense C.L. Hitchc.
Common Name:	Blair Valley pepper-grass
Family:	Brassicaceae
Element Code:	PDBRA1M0B1
USDA Plants Symbol:	LEFLF
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Mar-May	Mar-May
Elevation:	455-840 (1495-2755)
General Habitats:	Pinyon and juniper woodland, Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat:	Sandy
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G5T1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:	changed from 1B.2 to 1B.2 on 2015-01-20

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


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

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Borrego Palm Canyon (3311634)?, Collins Valley (3311644), Earthquake Valley (3311614)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	4
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	2	67 %
Grazing	2	66%
Non-native plant impacts	2	66%
ORV activity	2	66%
Insufficient population/stand size	1	33%

Notes



Many historical locations are suspect; likely only known from Blair Valley and Little Blair Valley in Anza-Borrego Desert SP. Threatened by recreational activities, vehicles, and non-native plants. Not included in TJM 2. See Madroño 3(7):299 (1936) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Change on 2015-01-20

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 7 December 2025].