San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass
See photo info below

Sacramento Fish & Wildlife Office
Species Account

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ORCUTT GRASS
(Orcuttia inaequalis)

CLASSIFICATION: Federal Endangered Species (Federal Register 62:14338 (PDF); March 26, 1997).

This species was listed as endangered by the California Department of Fish and Game in September 1979. 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.

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:

San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass (Orcuttia inaequalis) is a small, tufted annual in the grass family (Poaceae). The plant has several stems 2 to 6 inches tall, ending in a spike-like inflorescence. The foliage is grayish, with soft, straight hairs. At maturity, the spikelets of the plant are aggregated into a dense, hat-shaped cluster, which separates San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass from other members of the genus Orcuttia.

Although San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass is geographically isolated from all other members of the genus, it closely resembles the endangered Sacramento Orcutt grass (Orcuttia viscida). See Hickman (1993) in General Information about California Plants, below, for a detailed description of these species.

DISTRIBUTION:

San Joaquin Orcutt grass has always been restricted to the Southern Sierra Foothills Vernal Pool Region of the San Joaquin Valley. See the Recovery Plan for Vernal Pool Ecosystems of California and Southern Oregon for detailed information about current distribution.

THREATS:

Habitat loss and fragmentation are the largest threats to the survival and recovery of vernal pool species. Loss of habitat generally results from urbanization, agricultural conversion and mining.

Habitat loss also occurs in the form of habitat alteration and degradation as a result of changes to natural hydrology, invasive species, incompatible grazing regimes, infrastructure projects (e.g., roads, water storage and conveyance, utilities), recreational activities (e.g., off-highway vehicles and hiking), erosion, contamination and inadequate management and monitoring.

A potential reason for some site-specific declines of this species may be foraging by grasshopper outbreaks, which can decimate entire populations before they set seed.

REFERENCES FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

General Information about California Plants

Photo credit: San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass © 2002 Joshua D. Boldt Calphoto ID: 0000 0000 0802 0007

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