National Collection of Imperiled Plants

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Photographer:

Dieter Wilken

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Chlorogalum purpureum var. reductum

Family:	Liliaceae
Common Name:	Camatta Canyon amole
Author:	R.F. Hoover
Growth Habit:	Forb/herb
CPC Number:	15997

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Photographer: Dieter Wilken
dwilken[at]sbbg.org

Chlorogalum purpureum var. reductum is Not Sponsored

Primary custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered Plants is:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Dieter Wilken, Ph.D. contributed to this Plant Profile.

Chlorogalum purpureum var. reductum

Camatta Canyon amole is a bulbous perennial with 3-7 basal, spreading leaves, 1-5 ascending inflorescences 10 - 20 cm tall, and flowers with 6 bluish purple sepals and petals. This variety is known from only 2 sites, separated by over 5 km. Most of the plants occur in one area of about 2-3 hectares, which may support up to 100,000 individuals (USFWS 2000). Although the largest population is partly enclosed by an elevated pipe barrier, it is susceptible to illegal use by off-highway vehicles, which can compact soils and damage plants, especially during the flowering and fruiting season.

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

California

Habitat

Camatta Canyon amole occurs on reddish, gravelly or rocky clay soils of open sites in chaparral and oak savanna. Common associates include other bulbous perennials and annuals in the spring and early summer. (USFWS 2000)

Distribution

North slope of the La Panza Range of San Luis Obispo County, California. (USFWS 2000)

Number Left

As many as 100,000 plants may exist, with most occupying a single site with an area of 2-3 hectares. Estimates vary, however, depending on season and plant dormancy. Some observers have reported as few as 10,000 plants (USFWS 1998). The other population, consisting of perhaps several hundred plants, is restricted to an area of less than 0.1 hectare.

Protection

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Global Rank:	G1T1	1/3/2006	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	SC	3/20/2000	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	No

State/Area Protection

	State/Area	Rank	Status	Date
	California	S1.1

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

The age of reproduction in nature is unknown, but ongoing in situ studies by California Dept of Fish and Game staff suggest that plants may not begin flowering until they are at least 7-8 years old (Diane Steeck, pers. comm.). Plants are self-compatible, but require insect visitation to set full complements of seed. Small bees are common pollinators, including sweat bees (Halictidae) (Wilken pers. obs.). Fruits dehisce in early summer (June to early July), and seeds appear to be passively dispersed.

Threats

One site on public lands (US Forest Service) is threatened by soil compaction and erosion from illegal off-road vehicle activity.
Both sites are potentially threatened by trampling resulting from stray cattle.
Competition from noxious weeds pose potential threats.

Current Research Summary

� An experimental in situ study is being conducted at one site, to estimate longevity and age at reproduction and to provide basic demographic data (Diane Steeck, pers. comm.).
� Seed viability and germination has been studied at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

Current Management Summary

The larger site, located on the Los Padres National Forest, is adjacent to a major access road, along which an elevated pipe barrier has been constructed and which affords protection against haphazard incursion by vehicles. The other site occurs on private lands and is being protected by the owner (Karen Danielson, pers. comm.).

Research Management Needs

� Analyses of genetic variation, within and between populations.
� In situ germination requirements of seeds, including competitive interactions with noxious weeds.
� Surveys for undiscovered populations.

Monitoring Efforts

Not Available

Ex Situ Needs

Seed collections to fully represent genetic variation.

References

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Books (Single Authors)

Skinner, M.W.; Pavlik, B.M. 1997. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California: Electronic Inventory Update of 1994, 5th edition. Sacramento: California Native Plant Society.

Books (Sections)

Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the U.S., Canada, and Greenland. In: Kartesz, J.T.; Meacham, C.A., editors. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden. Chapel Hill, NC.

Books (Edited Volumes)

James C. Hickman, Editor. 1993 The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1400p.

Electronic Sources

CalPhotos. (2002). CalPhotos: Berkely Digital Library Project. University of California, Berkeley. http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/photos/. Accessed: 2002.

Journal Articles

Hoover, R. 1940. A monograph of the genus Chlorogalum. Madro�o. 5: 137-147.

Hoover, R. 1964. Some noteworthy California Liliaceae. Leaflets of Western Botany. 10: 121-128.

Jernstedt, J.A. 1980. UV absorption by flowers of Chlorogalum liliaceae. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 107, 2: 163-171.

USFWS. 1976. Proposed Endangered Status for 1700 U.S. Plants. Federal Register. 41: 24523-24572.

USFWS. 1998. Proposed Threatened Status for Chlorogalum purpureum (Purple Amole), a plant from the South Coast Ranges of California. Federal Register. 62, 60: 15158-15164.

USFWS. 2000. Determination of threatened status of Chlorogalum pupureum (purple amole) a rare plant from the South Coast Ranges of California. Federal Register. 65, 54: 14878-14888.

USFWS. 2001. Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for Chlorogalum purpureum, a Plant From the South Coast Ranges of California. Federal Register. 66, 217: 56508-56530.

Reports

Stephenson, John R.; Calcarone, Gena M. 1999. Southern California Mountains and Foothills Assessment: Habitat and Species Conservation Issues. Chapter 5 - Potentially Vulnerable Species: Plants. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. p.402. General Technical report PSW-GTR-172.

USFWS. 2002. Final draft economic analysis of critical habitat designation for the purple amole and the Camatta Canyon amole. Prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Economics by Industrial Economics, Incorporated. p.22.

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This profile was updated on 1/27/2011