Coulter's Goldfields [Lasthenia glabrata Lindl. ssp. coulteri (Gray) Ornduff]
Listing None 1B R-E-D Code 2-3-2
State/Federal. Status -- None ASTERACEAE Feb.-Jun.
Global Rank G4T2? State Rank S2.1
Distribution: San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Kern County, Santa Barbara County, San Bernardino County, San Luis Obispo County, Ventura County, Santa Rosa Island; Baja California, Mexico
Habitat: This species occurs in tidal marsh areas near the coast at the extreme upper end of tidal inundation. It has also been noted on the periphery of vernal pools such as near Miramar Airfield. Coulter's Goldfields utilizes alkaline marshes in the inland valleys of western Riverside County; Frankenia salina may grow nearby.
Known Sites: A sizeable population is concentrated at the east end of Peñasquitos Lagoon near the frontage road paralleling the freeway. A small colony was found south of Miramar Road west of the intersection with Eastgate Mall, growing in very mesic grasslands near vernal pools. Herbarium collections examined include the Tijuana River Valley, the east end of Mission Bay, Sorrento Slough, National Ranch, a salt marsh on San Marcos Creek in Green Valley, at the mouth of the Sweetwater River, and on a saline flat near Old Town. Most of these locales may no longer be extant. Additional herbarium specimens were from Sunset Beach as well as a valley west of the Coyote Hills near Buena Park in Orange County. In Riverside County this species occurs in moist locales in Hemet near the corner of Florida and Warren. Oftentimes massive fields of the common goldfields are present here with Coulter's Goldfields restricted to the mesic periphery of drainages.
Two collections from Baja California are found at the San Diego Natural History Museum; south to 31 55' North where collected by Moran (SD 104965) 3.5 miles WNW of Ojos Negros.
Status: This species is severely declining throughout its range due to wetland degradation. All populations are recommended for protected.
Copyright © May 1994 Craig H. Reiser.