Arizona Carlowrightia [Carlowrightia arizonica Gray]
Listing CNPS List 2 R-E-D Code 3-2-1
State/Federal. Status -- None ACANTHACEAE
Global Rank G4 State Rank S1.3
Distribution: San Diego County, southern Arizona; northern Mexico
Habitat: This suffrutescent bush favors xeric, stony slopes and may occur on the periphery of desert washes. Soils are mapped as Acid Igneous rock land at the Hellhole Canyon site.
Known Sites: Arizona Carlowrightia is now known from two locations in San Diego County. The first is reported at the mouth of Borrego Palm Canyon near the headquarters for Anza Borrego State Park. A second site is reported on private property at Hellhole Canyon, not far to the south of the first site on a side drainage near Montezuma Grade Road. Two Data Base reports are from 0.8 mile south of Palm Canyon Drive and 0.1 mile west of Highway S-22, and in Hellhole Canyon 0.9-1.1 mile west of County Highway S-22 and 2 miles west of Borrego Springs.
Status: This shrub and its peripheral habitat is potentially endangered at the Borrego Palm Canyon site by high recreational use (i.e., foot traffic) near the park headquarters. All Southern California populations should be protected.
Copyright © May 1994 Craig H. Reiser.