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Pseudobahia heermannii

(Dur.) Rydb.

Foothill Brittle-stem

G4Apparently Secure Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.142068
Element CodePDAST7P020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusPseudobahia
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2026-03-27
Change Date1990-01-16
Edition Date2026-03-27
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2026)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Pseudobahia heermannii is an annual herb found in sandy or rocky soils, in grasslands and openings in chaparral, foothill woodlands, and yellow-pine forests. It is endemic to the western United States in central California, in the Sierra Nevada Foothills and Cascade Range Foothills. There are likely over 81, though fewer than 300, occurrences, which are potentially threatened by conversion of habitat and habitat fragmentation from residential and agricultural development, with additional threats from road and transmission line maintenance projects, mining, recreational activities, and competition from non-native plants. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and moderate number of occurrences, this species is considered apparently secure.
Range Extent Comments
Pseudobahia heermannii is endemic to the western United States in central California, in the Sierra Nevada Foothills and Cascade Range Foothills, from Butte County south to Kern County (FNA 2006, Jepson Flora Project 2026). Range extent was estimated to be approximately 22,000 square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (RARECAT 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, SEINet 2026).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are 77 occurrences rangewide, though number of occurrences likely exceeds 81 (RARECAT 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, SEINet 2026).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by stressors similar to its federally listed congeners, P. bahiifolia and P. peirsonii, which include conversion of habitat and habitat fragmentation from residential and agricultural development, competition with non-native plants, transmission line maintenance, recreational activities, mining, road construction and maintenance, and prolonged droughts (USFWS 2023, CNDDB 2026).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Pseudobahia heermannii grows in sandy or rocky soils, in grasslands and openings in chaparral, foothill woodlands, and yellow-pine forests (FNA 2006, Jepson Flora Project 2026).

Reproduction

This species flowers from March to June (FNA 2006).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferWoodland - HardwoodShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentUnknownUnknownHigh - moderate
1.1 - Housing & urban areasUnknownUnknownHigh - moderate
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureUnknownUnknownHigh - moderate
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingUnknownUnknownHigh - moderate
4 - Transportation & service corridorsUnknownUnknownHigh - moderate
4.1 - Roads & railroadsUnknownUnknownHigh - moderate
4.2 - Utility & service linesUnknownUnknownHigh - moderate
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceUnknownUnknownHigh - moderate
6.1 - Recreational activitiesUnknownUnknownHigh - moderate
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1.1 - Unspecified speciesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh - low
11.2 - DroughtsPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh - low

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Plant Characteristics
DurationANNUAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (4)
California (4)
AreaForestAcres
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Ferguson RidgeSierra National Forest6,104
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
Oat Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,223
References (11)
  1. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). 2026. RareFind Version 5.3.0. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006c. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 21. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 8: Asteraceae, part 3. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 616 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2026. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2026).
  4. iNaturalist. 2026. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2026).
  5. Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2026. Jepson eFlora. Online. Available: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ (accessed 2026).
  6. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  7. Munz, P.A., with D.D. Keck. 1959. A California flora. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1681 pp.
  8. NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  9. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  10. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2026. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2026).
  11. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2023. <i>Pseudobahia bahiifolia </i>(Hartweg's golden sunburst)<i> and Pseudobahia peirsonii </i>(San Joaquin adobe sunburst) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation<i>. </i>U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service<i>, </i>Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office<i>, </i>Sacramento, California. Online. Available: https://ecosphere-documents-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com/sams/public_docs/species_nonpublish/8922.pdf (Accessed 2026).