Plant Species of the Borrego Desert: Endemic Species

Plant Species of the Borrego Desert: Endemic Species

There are 11 species which live only in the ABDSP area or nearby, plus a 12^th taxon (Lepidium flavum var. felipense) if it is accepted as distinct. Such species are called endemics or near endemics, and are always fascinating to people since humans love rare things. If you want to see these endemic species, you can see them only here or closeby.
Table 1 lists these taxa in alphabetical order of their scientific name as given in the Jepson Manual second edition (JM2), or by their later scientific name if they were not in the JM2. The geographic range given is first the one in the JM2, expanded with notes.
See Information about the links from the Scientific Name and Common Name.
Table 1. Species Endemic or Near-Endemic to ABDSP

# Fam Scientific Name Common Name Geographic Range
1 Fabac Acmispon haydonii pygmy lotus se PR, sw DSon, Baja CA.
2 Aster Chaenactis carphoclinia var. peirsonii Peirson's pincushion e PR (e SnRsMtns), adjacent w DSon.
3 Cacta Cylindropuntia fosbergii pink teddy-bear cholla DSon (e San Diego County)
4 Aster Eriophyllum wallacei var. rubellum Wallace's woolly daisy not in JM2, but it should have been. It is a well-defined taxon with a very distinct geographic range.
5 Rubia Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense Borrego bedstraw DSon (Borrego Palm Canyon, Hellhole Canyon, Pinyon Mtn Valley, all in San Diego County
6 Brass Lepidium flavum var. felipense Borrego Valley pepper-grass merged with the widespread and abundant var. flavum in JM2. If var. felipense is a separate taxon, it is only found at the playa in Little Blair Valley
7 Fabac Lupinus excubitus var. medius Mountain Springs bush lupine sw DSon
8 Malva Malacothamnus enigmaticus enigmatic bushmallow e PR, adjacent w DSon
9 Campa Nemacladus twisselmannii var. botanywomaniae Botany Woman's threadplant This is not only an endemic, it is our rarest endemic by far. The maximum number of plants ever seen was 94 plants in 2013, in three nearby locations near the trailhead for the Wilson Trail.
10 Borag Phacelia umbrosa Colorado Desert phacelia PR; Baja California; species may not be distinct from P. distans
11 Apiac Spermolepis infernensis Hellhole Canyon spermolepis not in JM2. In 2012, Neson defined this species as being only in Hellhole Canyon. We and others have subsequently observed it in a fairly large area between Glorietta Canyon and Yaqui Pass.
12 Aster Xylorhiza orcuttii Orcutt's woody-aster s DSon

#	Fam	Scientific Name	Common Name	Geographic Range
1	Fabac	Acmispon haydonii	pygmy lotus	se PR, sw DSon, Baja CA.
2	Aster	Chaenactis carphoclinia var. peirsonii	Peirson's pincushion	e PR (e SnRsMtns), adjacent w DSon.
3	Cacta	Cylindropuntia fosbergii	pink teddy-bear cholla	DSon (e San Diego County)
4	Aster	Eriophyllum wallacei var. rubellum	Wallace's woolly daisy	not in JM2, but it should have been. It is a well-defined taxon with a very distinct geographic range.
5	Rubia	Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense	Borrego bedstraw	DSon (Borrego Palm Canyon, Hellhole Canyon, Pinyon Mtn Valley, all in San Diego County
6	Brass	Lepidium flavum var. felipense	Borrego Valley pepper-grass	merged with the widespread and abundant var. flavum in JM2. If var. felipense is a separate taxon, it is only found at the playa in Little Blair Valley
7	Fabac	Lupinus excubitus var. medius	Mountain Springs bush lupine	sw DSon
8	Malva	Malacothamnus enigmaticus	enigmatic bushmallow	e PR, adjacent w DSon
9	Campa	Nemacladus twisselmannii var. botanywomaniae	Botany Woman's threadplant	This is not only an endemic, it is our rarest endemic by far. The maximum number of plants ever seen was 94 plants in 2013, in three nearby locations near the trailhead for the Wilson Trail.
10	Borag	Phacelia umbrosa	Colorado Desert phacelia	PR; Baja California; species may not be distinct from P. distans
11	Apiac	Spermolepis infernensis	Hellhole Canyon spermolepis	not in JM2. In 2012, Neson defined this species as being only in Hellhole Canyon. We and others have subsequently observed it in a fairly large area between Glorietta Canyon and Yaqui Pass.
12	Aster	Xylorhiza orcuttii	Orcutt's woody-aster	s DSon

Go to:

Plant Species of The Borrego Desert
Bloom Reports from the Anza-Borrego Desert
Plant Species of San Jacinto Mountain: Endemic Species
Plant Species of San Gabriel Mountains: Endemic Species

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Updated 6 June 2020.