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Plant Profile

Green's Awnless Orcutt Grass (Tuctoria greenei)

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Poaceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 144317
Lifeform: Graminoid
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

Greenes tuctoria is an annual grass species found only in vernal pools. It grows in tufts of several stems, which are erect or decumbent and break easily at the base. The entire plant tends to be pilose, but is only slightly viscid. The stems are usually 5 to 15 centimeters (2.0 to 5.9 inches) tall and are not branched. Plants have purplish nodes and leaves no wider than 5 millimeters (0.20 inch). The inflorescence can be as much as 8 centimeters (3.1 inches) long; it may be partly hidden by the leaves when young, but is held above the leaves at maturity. (Recovery Plan).

Where is Green's Awnless Orcutt Grass (Tuctoria greenei) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Greenes tuctoria has been found in three types of vernal pools: Northern Basalt Flow, Northern Claypan, and Northern Hardpan on both low and high terraces. (Recovery Plan).

Distribution:

The majority of the 22 extant occurrences are in the Northeastern Sacramento Valley Vernal Pool Region, particularly in the Vina Plains. The next largest concentration is in the Southern Sierra Foothi

States & Provinces:

Green's Awnless Orcutt Grass can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Green's Awnless Orcutt Grass (Tuctoria greenei)?

University of California Botanical Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 10/23/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

10/01/2020

Seeds have been collected at localities in Tehama and Glenn counties, and will continue to be collected in subsequent years at other localities. Seeds will be deposited at an appropriate seed storage facility. (Recovery Plan).

10/01/2020

10/01/2020

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Restricted to vernal pools in the Central Valley of California. Of the total 43 occurrences ever recorded, 21 are currently considered historical and 2 are considered extirpated; 20 (47%) remain extant. Vernal pool habitats in California's Central Valley have been greatly reduced from pre-European times; the remaining habitats are limited in extent, fragmented, and are facing on-going degradation and elimination due to numerous housing development projects and other types of urban development, agricultural activities and development, grazing, the invasion of non-native plant species, and other threats.

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

Habitat destruction Competition with non-native species Inappropriate livestock grazing

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

22 occurrences are believed to be extant. The number of individuals varies dramatically from year to year. Fourteen localities of this species remain unprotected and all of these sites are on private lands. (5-year Review)

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

Dr. Heather Davis, Department of Biology of Sonoma State University, began an investigation in 2007 on the population genetics of Greenes tuctoria to determine how pollination ecology interacts with population genetics to control the plants reproductive success (Sonoma State University 2006). Seeds have been collected at localities in Tehama and Glenn counties, and will continue to be collected in subsequent years at other localities. Seeds will be deposited at an appropriate seed storage facility. (Recovery Plan).

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

Grazing is excluded from occurrences on conservation lands. Management on private lands is unknown. The majority of the localities of Greenes tuctoria do not have management plans, monitoring programs, or adequate funding to ensure that these localities are sustainable in perpetuity. (5-Year Review)

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

The Recovery Plan recommends research on genetics, taxonomy, biology, the effects of habitat management practices on this species and its habitat, and threats to vernal pool species and ecosystems.

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

Continued development of long term seed banks.