Orcutt's Dudleya [Dudleya attenuata (Wats.) Moran ssp. orcuttii (Rose) Moran]
Listing CNPS List 2 R-E-D Code 3-3-1
State/Federal. Status -- /C2 CRASSULACEAE May-Jul.
Global Rank G4T2 State Rank S1.2
Distribution: San Diego County; Baja California, Mexico
Habitat: Openings in Diegan Sage Scrub near the coast are preferred by Orcutt's Dudleya. Marina loamy coarse sand is mapped for the Border Field site. In Baja California, the proximity to moist ocean breezes seems to be a significant factor in the abundance of this succulent perennial (e.g., near Punta Banda).
Known Sites: A small population of perhaps two hundred plants grows on a bluff at Border Field State Park. Negligible protection is provided and "nature tours" are known to traipse right through this very open sandstone habitat. This is the only known population in the U.S.
Seventeen specimens are recorded from Baja California at the San Diego Natural History Museum's herbarium; south to 31 7' North where collected by Moran (SD 96841) on the south wall of a canyon at Rio San Rafael. It is locally common on the northern coast of Baja California such as on Banda Peak (i.e., Punta Banda), the hills around Baja Del Mar, and south of Punta Mesquite.
Status: Orcutt's Dudleya is close to extirpation in the United States. All populations should be fully protected. An appropriate buffer against human intrusion needs to be established for the population at the Border Field site. It is recommended that seed be taken from this small population at Border Field State Park and grown horticulturally for establishment on similar state park lands near this northern-most site.
Copyright © May 1994 Craig H. Reiser.