(Clarkia springvillensis)
Springville clarkia is a California endangered plant species, which means that killing or possessing the plant is prohibited by the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). Springville clarkia is also listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. This species is an annual herb with dark red to purple flowers that bloom from May to June. Springville clarkia occurs primarily within the Tule River watershed in Tulare County, and generally grows on decomposing granite in blue oak woodland communities.
There were 20 occurrences of Springville clarkia listed in the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) that were presumed to still exist at the time of this webpage posting. Over half of the known Springville clarkia occurrences are on U.S. Forest Service or other public land, which means that they are likely not directly threatened by habitat destruction from development. However, for the populations of Springville clarkia that are on private land, development remains a potential threat. Many occurrences are on upward slopes of roadsides and are threatened by maintenance activities such as mowing, grading, herbicide application, brush control, and road improvements. One occurrence is on CDFW’s Springville Clarkia Ecological Reserve, which has been fenced from grazing and is protected from roadside maintenance. Nonnative plants are also a threat to all Springville clarkia occurrences, especially brome species that can outcompete Springville clarkia for water and nutrients.
A consistent monitoring plan should be established so that Springville clarkia population trends can be observed and analyzed. Management plans which include managing nonnative plants and ensuring that road maintenance does not harm populations should be created and followed for occurrences on public land. Additionally, research into invasive species management techniques to benefit Springville clarkia should be conducted.
CDFW may issue permits for Springville clarkia pursuant to CESA, and you can learn more about the California laws protecting Springville clarkia and other California native plants. Populations of Springville clarkia occur in CDFW’s Central Region. More information is also available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Species Profile for Springville clarkia.
Updated 9/23/2013