Information on Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants

Information on the biology, distribution, and status of California’s rare, threatened, and endangered plant species is available from the links below. Lists of California’s rare, threatened and endangered plants, bryophytes, and lichens are also described and available below.

Species Information

Threatened and Endangered Plant Profiles
Species Accounts of Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants from 2004 Status Report (PDF)(opens in new tab)
Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Special Status Native Plant Populations and Natural Communities (PDF)(opens in new tab)
CDFW’s California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB)
Illustrations of California Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plant Species, created by retired CDFW botanist Mary Ann Showers
Reports of Research and Recovery Actions for Threatened and Endangered Plants(opens in new tab) (opens CDFW’s document library)
External resources for species information

Species Lists

The List of State and Federally-Listed Endangered, Threatened and Rare Plants of California (PDF)(opens in new tab) includes all of the plant species that have been designated as rare, threatened, endangered, or candidate by the California Fish and Game Commission under California law, and all plant species that both occur in California and have been designated as threatened, endangered or are proposed for listing under the federal Endangered Species ActEndangered Species Act(opens in new tab).
The Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List (PDF)(opens in new tab) includes all of the plant species in the list above and all other plant species tracked by CDFW’s California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), including high priority bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts), plant species that are considered endangered or rare under section 15380 of CEQA, plant species that are considered sensitive by federal agencies, or other plant species that are biologically rare, very restricted in distribution, or declining throughout their range. Some lichens are also included on the list.

For more information on any of the topics above, please contact the Native Plant Program at nativeplants@wildlife.ca.gov.

Information on Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants

Species Information

Species Lists

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