Search / Plant Profile / Baccharis vanessae

Plant Profile

Encinitis Baccharis (Baccharis vanessae)

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Threatened
Family: Asteraceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 157399
Lifeform: Shrub
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

Baccharis vanessae (Encinitas baccharis) is a shrubby member of the Asteraceae (sunflower family). This dioecious broom-like shrub is 1.6 to 4.3 ft (0.5 to 1.3 m) tall, and found in coastal and foothill habitats of San Diego County, California. The species was discovered in 1976 by Beauchamp in the city of Encinitas; he later described the species in 1980. Baccharis vanessae was listed as endangered by the State of California in 1986 and threatened by the federal government in 1996.

Where is Encinitis Baccharis (Baccharis vanessae) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Baccharis vanessae occurs in coastal and foothill habitats and is associated with southern maritime chaparral at coastal sites and dense mixed chaparral at inland sites. Southern maritime chaparral is a low growing fairly open habitat type and is considered a threatened plant community. Three soil types are associated with this species. The soil association at the coastal sites is within an alluvial-Huehuero complex, while inland sites occur on San Miguel-Exchquer and Cieneba series soils (Beauchamp 1980).

Distribution:

Baccharis vanessae is a narrow endemic native to San Diego County, California. This species is known primarily from Encinitas east to Woodson Mountain, near Poway, north to the Santa Margarita Mountai

States & Provinces:

Encinitis Baccharis can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Encinitis Baccharis (Baccharis vanessae)?

California Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/13/17

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

Caroline Iacuaniello

04/12/2021

In 2020 the San Diego Botanic Garden successfully collected seed from ten maternal lines of Encinitas baccharis, propagated plants, and reintroduced those plants throughout Encinitas, in their garden, and in other botanic gardens throughout California. Seed has been banked at both San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and NLGRP.

09/01/2020

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, San Diego Zoo Global holds 2 accessions of Baccharis vanessae in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 15404 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

08/27/2020

A single transplanted population of 34 individuals was established in San Dieguito Park; however this population has not persisted.

08/05/2020

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, San Diego Botanic Garden has collected 1 seed accessions of Baccharis vanessae from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 11 maternal plants

08/05/2020

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, San Diego Zoo Global has collected 1 seed accessions of Baccharis vanessae from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 69 maternal plants

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Known only from a 70 by 30 km stretch of western San Diego County, California. There are about 15 extant populations known with about 2,000 individuals in total (several populations have only a few individuals). Half of the populations are threatened by proposed development projects. Intense, mostly recent urbanization of the species' habitat has extirpated at least 5 populations.

Naomi Fraga

01/01/2010

Threats to B. vanessae include degradation or elimination of habitat due to urban development, and disruption to the natural fire cycle. In addition B. vanessae has a limited number of individuals which leaves this species vulnerable to disturbances.

Naomi Fraga

01/01/2010

There are fourteen known extant occurrences of B. vanessae estimated to contain 2,000 individuals. Five of these occurrences have fewer than six plants each, and no population is known to have more than 300 individuals (USFWS 1996).

Naomi Fraga

01/01/2010

Little is known regarding the biology and ecology of B. vanessae.

Naomi Fraga

01/01/2010

Protected occurrences include those in the Santa Margarita Mountains (San Mateo Wilderness on the Cleveland National Forest), and occurrences in the Elfin Forest Reserve (managed in part by BLM), and within Oak Crest Park in Encinitas. Baccharis vanessae is also included in the following habitat conservation plans Fieldstone/La Costa & City of Carlsbad, MHCP, City of Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan, MSCP, City of Chula Vista Subarea Plan, MSCP, City of La Mesa Subarea Plan, MSCP, City of Poway Subarea Plan, MSCP, City of San Diego Subarea Plan, MSCP, County of San Diego Subarea Plan, and San Diego Gas & Electric.

Naomi Fraga

01/01/2010

There is a need for understanding this species response to fire.

Naomi Fraga

01/01/2010

A single transplanted population of 34 individuals was established in San Dieguito Park; however this population has not persisted.