Search / Plant Profile / Chlorogalum purpureum var. reductum

Plant Profile

Camatta Canyon Amole (Chlorogalum purpureum var. reductum)

The fruit of this species is borne on stems that are 10 - 20 cm tall (4 - 8 in). Photo Credit: Dieter Wilken

Global Rank: T1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Liliaceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 134725
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 05/01/1999

Description:

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.

Where is Camatta Canyon Amole (Chlorogalum purpureum var. reductum) located in the wild?

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)

States & Provinces:

Camatta Canyon Amole can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Camatta Canyon Amole (Chlorogalum purpureum var. reductum)?

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

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

09/03/2020

Seed viability and germination has been studied at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

09/03/2020

An experimental in situ study is being conducted at one site, to estimate longevity and age at reproduction and to provide basic demographic data

09/01/2020

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden holds 1 accessions of Chlorogalum purpureum var. reductum in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 250 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, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has collected 1 seed accessions of Chlorogalum purpureum var. reductum from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 30 maternal plants

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Known from two occurrences located on the Los Padres National Forest in San Luis Obispo County, California. The plants are threatened by off-road vehicles; a portion of the population has been fenced by the California Native Plant Society and the U.S. Forest Service. Other threats include grazing and weed encroachment. Both populations are at least partially protected by the USFS.

Dieter Wilken, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

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 potenti

Dieter Wilken, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

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.

Dieter Wilken, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

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.

Dieter Wilken, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

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.).

Dieter Wilken, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

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

Dieter Wilken, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Seed collections to fully represent genetic variation.