Butte Co. Meadowfoam
See photo info below

Sacramento Fish & Wildlife Office
Species Account

BUTTE COUNTY MEADOWFOAM
(Limnanthes floccosa ssp. californica)

There is a special Butte County meadowfoam species account for 4th, 5th and 6th grade students.

CLASSIFICATION: Federal Endangered Species (Federal Register 57:24192; June 8, 1992)

This species was listed as endangered by the California Department of Fish and Game in February 1982. The California Native Plant Society has placed it on List 1B (rare or endangered throughout its range).

This species was listed as endangered by the California Department of Fish and Game in February 1982. The California Native Plant Society has placed it on List 1B (rare or endangered throughout its range).

CRITICAL HABITAT: Originally designated in Federal Register 68:46683 pdf; August 6, 2003.
The designation was revised in 70:46923 pdf; August 11, 2005.
Species by unit designations were published in 71:7117 (pdf) February 10, 2006.

RECOVERY PLAN: Recovery Plan for Vernal Pool Ecosystems of California and Southern Oregon

DESCRIPTION:

Butte County meadowfoam (Limnanthes floccosa ssp. california) is a densely pubescent (hairy), winter annual herb belonging to the false mermaid family (Limnanthaceae). The stems, which range from 1 to 10 inches in length, generally lie flat on the ground with the tips curved upward, and have few leaves in the flowering stage.

White flowers with dark yellow veins at the base of each of the five petals generally appear in late March through April. The plant is largely self-pollinating because the sepals are partially fused by cottony hair that prevents the flowers from fully opening.  See Hickman (1993) in General Information about California Plants, below, for a detailed description (as Shippee meadowfoam).

DISTRIBUTION:

Butte County meadowfoam occurs in three types of seasonal wetland habitats: along the edges of vernal pools and ephemeral streams, and occasionally around the edges of isolated vernal pools. It generally occurs on level to gently sloping terrain on poorly drained soils with shallow soil layers impermeable to water infiltration. It thrives in waterlogged soils and tolerates periodic submergence.

Protecting the watershed that contributes runoff to meadowfoam habitat is required to ensure the continuation of the moisture regime of vernal pools, discourage competition by aggressive upland species and maintain Butte County meadowfoam populations.

The species is restricted to a narrow 25-mile strip along the eastern flank of the Sacramento Valley from central Butte County to the northern portion of the City of Chico. The range has not changed significantly from historical times, but the number of populations, the area occupied, and the amount of available habitat within the range has declined significantly in the last 30 years.

Although never extensive in range, Butte County meadowfoam has been significantly reduced and fragmented by development in the Chico area. Butte County meadowfoam distribution is highly fragmented, with populations clustered in central Butte County near the type locality and in and near the City of Chico.

All remaining known populations of Butte County Meadowfoam are subject to urban development, airport maintenance activities, conversion of agricultural lands to other uses, and/or road widening or realignment.

THREATS:

Butte County meadowfoam is primarily threatened by urban development in and around Chico in Butte County. Loss of any populations may represent a significant loss of the total amount of genetic variability for the species. Butte County meadowfoam is extremely vulnerable to chance catastrophes and is exceedingly poorly equipped to escape them by seed dispersal to other sites .

The 11 known populations are threatened by urban development and the conversion of vernal pool habitat to agricultural fields. 

REFERENCES FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (See our Disclaimer)

Dole, J. A. and M. Sun. 1992. Field and genetic survey of the endangered Butte County meadowfoam - Limnanthes floccosa subsp. californica (Limnanthaceae). Cons. Biol. 6:549-558.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 1992. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Endangered Status for the Plant Limnanthes floccosa ssp. californica (Butte County Meadowfoam) (pdf). Portland, Oregon.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2003. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Designation of Critical Habitat for Four Vernal Pool Crustaceans and Eleven Vernal Pool Plants in California and Southern Oregon Vernal pool crustaceans and plants in California and Oregon. Portland, Oregon.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2005. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Designation of Critical Habitat for Four Vernal Pool Crustaceans and Eleven Vernal Pool Plants in California and Southern Oregon; Evaluation of Economic Exclusions From August 2003 Final Designation; Final Rule. Portland, Oregon.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2006. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Designation of Critical Habitat for Four Vernal Pool Crustaceans and Eleven Vernal Pool Plants; Final Rule. Portland, Oregon.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2005. Recovery Plan for Vernal Pool Ecosystems of California and Southern Oregon. Portland, Oregon.

General Information about California Plants

Credits: Photo of Butte County meadowfoam © Robert E. Preston, Ph.D. Calphoto ID: 0000 0000 0102 0081

Prepared by Endangered Species Div., Sacramento Fish & Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service