ETWP; Proposed Endangered or Threatened Status for Seven Plants From the Mountains of Southern California

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to list two plants as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act): Poa atropurpurea (San Bernardino bluegrass) and Taraxacum californicum (California dandelion). The Service also proposes to list five plants as threatened: Arabis johnstonii (Johnston's rock-cress), Arenaria ursina (Bear Valley sandwort), Castilleja cinerea (ash-grey Indian paintbrush), Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum (southern mountain wild buckwheat), and Trichostema austromontanum ssp. compactum (Hidden Lake bluecurls). These species are restricted to the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges of southern California, primarily the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains. Arenaria ursina, Castilleja cinerea, and Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum occur primarily on pebble plains that are relatively open areas with clay soils. Poa atropurpurea and Taraxacum californicum are found in mountain meadows. The only known population of Trichostema austromontanum ssp. compactum is associated with an ephemeral pond. Arabis johnstonii is found in forest and chaparral habitats. These seven taxa are threatened by one or more of the following: urbanization, habitat degradation by domestic animals, grazing, competition from introduced weeds, off-road vehicle (ORV) use, trampling, recreational development, alteration of the hydrologic regime, overcollection, and genetic absorption with exotic species. Poa atropurpurea, T. californicum, and T. austromontanum ssp. compactum are also threatened by stochastic extinction due to their small population sizes and limited distributions. This proposed rule, if made final, would extend protection under the Act to these species.