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Home/Species/ Sulphur Creek Brodiaea

Brodiaea matsonii

R.E. Preston

Sulphur Creek Brodiaea

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.865302
Element CodePMLIL0C0H0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderAsparagales
FamilyAsparagaceae
GenusBrodiaea
Concept Reference
Preston, R.E. 2010. Brodiaea matsonii (Asparagaceae: Brodiaeoideae) a new species from Shasta County, California. Madrono 57(4):261-267.
Taxonomic Comments
Brodiaea matsonii is described by Preston (2010) as closely related to, but distinct from B. minor.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2026-04-17
Change Date2011-09-14
Edition Date2026-04-17
Edition AuthorsDavis, G. (2011), rev. Eberly (2026)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Brodiaea matsonii is a perennial bulbiferous herb that is endemic to the Sulphur Creek area of Shasta County, California. It is restricted to two occurrences that have numerous threats including utility maintenance, trampling, alterations to hydrology, and wild collection for horticulture.
Range Extent Comments
Brodiaea matsonii occurs in the western United States where it is restricted to a single extended location along Sulphur Creek in Shasta County, California (Preston 2010).
Occurrences Comments
Brodiaea matsonii is known from two occurrences with scattered locations along a 1.6 km reach of stream channel (Preston 2010).
Threat Impact Comments
Currently, this species is potentially threatened by utility lines (powerline inspection and maintenance), foot traffic and other anthropogenic disruptions, hydrological alteration due to water diversion, illegal dumping, non-native plants, and collection for horticulture. This species was historically threatened by development as part of the occurrence was on private land (Sims and Bittman 2011, CNDDB 2026, CNPS 2026).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species grows in the cracks and crevices of metamorphic amphibolite schist on the banks and islands of intermittent streambeds, and in wet meadows/swales that are found within Foothill Woodlands and at elevations ranging from 195 to 220 meters (Sims and Bittman 2011, CNPS 2026, CNDDB 2026, Jepson Flora Project 2026).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandWoodland - Hardwood
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentLarge - restrictedExtreme or 71-100% pop. declineInsignificant/negligible or past
4 - Transportation & service corridorsLarge (31-70%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4.2 - Utility & service linesLarge (31-70%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource usePervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plantsPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
5.2.1 - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)Pervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - restrictedUnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesPervasive - restrictedUnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1.1 - Unspecified speciesPervasive - restrictedUnknownHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
9.4 - Garbage & solid wasteUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
California (1)
AreaForestAcres
BackboneShasta-Trinity National Forest11,466
References (6)
  1. California Native Plant Society (CNPS), Rare Plant Program. 2026. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California, online edition, v9.5. Online. Available: https://www.rareplants.cnps.org (accessed 2026).
  2. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2026. RareFind Version 5.3.0. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  3. Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2026. Jepson eFlora. Online. Available: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ (accessed 2026).
  4. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  5. Preston, R.E. 2010. Brodiaea matsonii (Asparagaceae: Brodiaeoideae) a new species from Shasta County, California. Madrono 57(4):261-267.
  6. Sims, A.E., and R. Bittman. 2011. Rare Plant Status Review: <i>Brodiaea matsonii</i>. Online. Available: https://rareplantfiles.cnps.org/ref/BrodiaeaMatsonii_20110712_StsRevAdd.pdf.