Endangered Species

Monterey Spineflower

Scientific Name: Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens

Status: T, CH

The Monterey Spineflower is an annual herb belonging to the Buckwheat Family. It is distinguished by white (rarely pinkish) scarious margins on the involucral lobes and a prostrate to slightly ascending habit. The aggregate of flowers (heads) tend to be less than 1 cm in diameter and either distinctly or indistinctly aggregate.

Habitat: Scattered on sandy soils within coastal and near-coastal dune, coastal scrub, grassland, maritime chaparral, and oak woodland communities. Found in open areas, openings between shrubs, roadsides, firebreaks. Native to California and endemic (limited) to California alone.

Threats: Much of this species' habitat has been destroyed or degraded by urbanization, agricultural development, and the introduction of non-native plants for dune stabilization.

To Learn More:

• Calflora Database
  Searchable database all 8375 currently recognized vascular plants in California, including 20000 photographs.
• CalPhotos - University of California, Berkeley
  Enter species name in the search box to access browseable photographs of the species.
• NatureServe Explorer
  Enter species name in the search box to access a detailed description, including habitat, current conservation status, ecological and distribution data with citations to relevant management reports.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
  Documents describing protection for this species under the Endangered Species Act. General information about the species along with plans to both protect it and help it recover.