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Sairocarpus vexillocalyculatus

(Kellogg) D.A. Sutton

Wiry Snapdragon

G4Apparently Secure (G4G5) Found in 8 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1370346
Element CodePDSCR2S0B0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPlantaginales
FamilyPlantaginaceae
GenusSairocarpus
Synonyms
Antirrhinum vexillocalyculatumKellogg
Concept Reference
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2019. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 17: Magnoliophyta: Tetrachondraceae to Orobanchaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 737 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
This record is for a broad treatment of Sairocarpus vexillocalyculatus, including as accepted subspecies breweri, intermedius, and vexillocalyculatus and S. elmeri as indistinct, as recognized by Barringer in FNA (2019, vol. 17). Kartesz (1994 and 1999) recognizes a more narrow treatment, excluding Sairocarpus elmeri and S. breweri (including S. vexillocalyculatus ssp. intermedium in part) as distinct species. Keil et al. (2020), like FNA (2019), also recognize breweri and intermedius as distinct subspecies, but treat S. vexillocalyculatus as Antirrrhinum vexillocalyculatum.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2026-04-16
Change Date2026-04-16
Edition Date2026-04-16
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2026)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Sairocarpus vexillocalyculatus is a wide-ranging annual herb found on gravelly lower slopes of rockslides and disturbed areas, often on serpentine. It is endemic to the western United States in southwestern Oregon south to the central Sierra Nevada and northern Inner South Coast Ranges in California. There are over 250 occurrences, which potentially face threats from development, road maintenance, and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, this species is considered apparently secure to secure.
Range Extent Comments
Sairocarpus vexillocalyculatus is endemic to the western United States in southwestern Oregon south to the central Sierra Nevada and northern Inner South Coast Ranges in California (FNA 2019, Jepson Flora Project 2026). Range extent was estimated to be over 120,000 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 over 250 occurrences rangewide (RARECAT 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, SEINet 2026).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by stressors, including development, road maintenance, and invasive species.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Sairocarpus vexillocalyculatus grows on gravelly lower slopes of rockslides and disturbed areas, often on serpentine (FNA 2019, Jepson Flora Project 2026).

Reproduction

This taxon flowers from June to September (FNA 2019, Jepson Flora Project 2026).
Terrestrial Habitats
Bare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
OregonSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationANNUAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (8)
California (8)
AreaForestAcres
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
Chips CreekPlumas National Forest12,940
East BeegumShasta-Trinity National Forest8,425
East GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest27,894
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
Snow MountainMendocino National Forest14,457
Thomes CreekMendocino National Forest16,616
UnderwoodSix Rivers National Forest6,591
References (9)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2019. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 17: Magnoliophyta: Tetrachondraceae to Orobanchaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 737 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2026. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2026).
  3. iNaturalist. 2026. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2026).
  4. Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2026. Jepson eFlora. Online. Available: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ (accessed 2026).
  5. 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.
  6. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  7. Keil, D.J., M. Wetherwax and D.M. Thompson. 2020. <i>Antirrhinum</i> in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, Revision 8, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=9184.
  8. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  9. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2026. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2026).