Photo: Veiny monardella (Monardella venosa). CDFW photo by Kristi Lazar.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will be conducting a status review for veiny monardella (Monardella venosa) to inform the California Fish and Game Commission's decision on whether to list the species as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). As part of this process, CDFW is soliciting information regarding the species’ ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to its reproduction or survival, the adequacy of existing management and recommendations for management of the species. The CNDDB would like to encourage anyone who has observed veiny monardella to submit their findings to us. People who have questions or comments about the review process should email our Native Plant Program. The deadline for both data submission and comments is February 5, 2027 to allow us sufficient time for evaluation.
Veiny monardella is an annual plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that occurs in the northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills. It is restricted to grasslands and oak woodlands on clay or clay-rich soils. Veiny monardella is known from four occurrences with two of the occurrences extirpated. At the two extant occurrences, abundance is estimated at 2,500 individuals in 1998 at one occurrence and nearly 500,000 individuals in 2023 at the other occurrence. Population trends may be declining, and agricultural conversion, development, climate change, and invasive species have been identified as potential threats.
On August 25, 2025, Dr. John C. Hunter submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to list veiny monardella as an endangered species under CESA. The Commission published findings of its decision to make the species a candidate for listing as an endangered species on October 30, 2026, and as such, veiny monardella now receives the same legal protection afforded to an endangered or threatened species (Fish and Game Code sections 2074.2 and 2085). Take of this species is prohibited without an appropriate permit for scientific, educational or management purposes. For more information on permitting, visit our CESA permits page.
We need your help in better understanding the status of veiny monardella. If you have ever found this species in the wild, submit your findings to us through our Online Field Survey Form. Together, we can help the Fish and Game Commission make an informed decision on the listing proposal for the veiny monardella.
The listing petition, CDFW’s petition evaluation report, and updates on the listing process are available on the Commission’s website.