Search / Plant Profile / Dudleya stolonifera

Plant Profile

Laguna Beach Dudleya (Dudleya stolonifera)

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Threatened
Family: Crassulaceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 144868
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Categories of Interest: Cacti/Succulents
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/14/1986

Description:

This rare plant is considered endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and listed in Appendix I of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In this designation, Dudleya stolonifera joins the ranks of other endangered species such as tigers, Asian elephants, chimpanzees and humpback whales. CITES was set up by the IUCN to address the international trade in wildlife, which processes billions of dollars annually while causing massive declines in the numbers of many species of animals and plants. CITES is a voluntary agreement among countries, and signatory countries to CITES ban commercial international trade in an agreed list of endangered species (Appendix I) and their products and by regulating and monitoring trade in others that might become endangered (Appendix II). Species that are on Appendix I, such as Dudleya stolonifera, are threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by international commercial trade. This and other Appendix I species cannot be traded internationally for commercial purposes. (USFWS 2002) The Laguna Beach lifeforever is a succulent perennial with a basal rosette of flat, oblong, bright green leaves that rise from woody base. The flowers of this species have bright yellow-green petals that are fused near their base. This species is distinguished from others in California by having branching stolon (horizontal stems that root at the nodes) and lateral vegetative branches that come out of the woody base. (USFWS 1998)

Where is Laguna Beach Dudleya (Dudleya stolonifera) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Found on weathered sandstone rock outcrops on cliffs within coastal sage scrub or chaparral communities. (USFWS 1998)

Distribution:

A small area on the cliffs of canyons near Laguna Beach, California. (USFWS 1998)

States & Provinces:

Laguna Beach Dudleya can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Laguna Beach Dudleya (Dudleya stolonifera)?

California Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

University of California-Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 01/17/19

The Huntington

Not Sponsored

Assigned 10/30/23

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

09/01/2020

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Botanic Garden holds 1 accessions of Dudleya stolonifera in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 380 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

08/05/2020

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Botanic Garden has collected 1 seed accessions of Dudleya stolonifera from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass an unknown number of maternal plants

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Known only from 6 populations, all located near Laguna Beach, California. There are estimated to be 8,000-10,000 individuals in total. Although the species' habitat is relatively inaccessible, adjacent urbanization has accelerated the invasion of non-native plants. Horticultural collection is also a threat.

01/01/2010

Invasive non-native plants Horticultural collection Urban development (USFWS 1998)

01/01/2010

There are only six populations left with a total of 10,000 individuals estimated. (USFWS 1998)

01/01/2010

None known.

01/01/2010

The Nature Conservancy has reached an agreement with several private landowners to protect this species on their properties.

01/01/2010

Protect remaining populations.

01/01/2010

Maintain a genetically representative seed bank.