Taxon Details

Orcuttia inaequalis

San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass

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Taxon Summary:

Orcuttia inaequalis, commonly known as San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass, is a annual herb in the Poaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Vernal pools, growing at elevations from 10 to 755 meters. Orcuttia inaequalis is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Orcuttia inaequalis Hoov.
Common Name: San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass
Family:	Poaceae
Element Code:	PMPOA4G060
USDA Plants Symbol:	ORIN
Synonyms/Other Names: Orcuttia californica (Hoov.) Hoov. var. inaequalis
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Fed List:	FT (1997-03-26)
State List:	CE (1979-09-01)
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1974-01-01
Date Edited:	2025-05-06

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb

Blooming Period: Apr-Sep

Elevation:
10 - 755 meters
35 - 2475 feet

General Habitats:

Vernal pools

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Notes

Notes:
Threats: Seriously threatened by agriculture, development, overgrazing, channelization, and non-native plants.
Taxonomy: See Madroño 3(6):229 (1936) for original description, and American Journal of Botany 69:1082-1095 (1982) for taxonomic treatment.

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	14
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	37	79 %
Grazing	23	48%
Non-native plant impacts	11	23%
Agriculture	10	21%
Development	9	19%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	6	12%
Foot traffic/trampling	6	12%
ORV activity	4	8%
Other	3	6%
Disking	2	4%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	4%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	1	2%
Erosion/runoff	1	2%
Dam/Inundation	1	2%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	2%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					47
A	B	C	D	X	U
5	9	8	2	17	6

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	34
Recent <=20 Years	13

Presence:
Presumed Extant	30
Possibly Extirpated	1
Presumed Extirpated	16

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Fresno (FRE), Madera (MAD), Merced (MER), Solano (SOL), Stanislaus (STA)*, Tulare (TUL)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Cressey (3712046)*, Daulton (3711918), Denair (3712057)*, Elmira (3812138), Fresno North (3611977)*, Friant (3611986), Haystack Mtn. (3712043), Ivanhoe (3611942)*, Kismet (3712011)*, Lanes Bridge (3611987), Le Grand (3712022), Merced (3712034), Millerton Lake East (3711915), Monson (3611943), Montpelier (3712056)*, Orange Cove North (3611963), Owens Reservoir (3712032), Paulsell (3712066)*, Planada (3712033), Wahtoke (3611964)*, Waterford (3712067)*, Woodlake (3611941), Yosemite Lake (3712044)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory