Brown Turbans [Malperia tenuis Wats.]
Listing CNPS List 2 R-E-D Code 3-1-1
State/Federal. Status -- None ASTERACEAE Mar.-Apr.
Global Rank G? State Rank S?
Distribution: San Diego County, Imperial County; Baja California, Mexico
Habitat: Sonoran Desert Scrub is the general habitat for Brown Turbans. Near Ocotillo it grows on arid slopes with shallow soils, rocky surface rubble with few large boulders, and little competition from shrubs.
Known Sites: A limited population occurs on volcanic slopes at Mortero Wash near Highway S-2 in San Diego County. This inconspicuous annual is occasional in low hills east of Ocotillo, east of Fossil Canyon Road in Imperial County. It is also seen on volcanic flats south of Pinto Wash on the Yuha Desert of Imperial County. An old biological survey report notes this annual on the eastern slope of Carrizo Mountain.
Fifteen specimens from the deserts of Baja California are found in the San Diego Herbarium; south to 26 14' North where collected by Moran (SD 92699) on a rocky flat near Pozo de San Juanico. A substantial local population was observed near the highway east of La Rumarosa on the desert flanks of the Sierra Juarez Mountains, growing in very rocky terrain.
Status: The status of Brown Turbans in San Diego County is poorly understood. More collection information is needed. Existing populations are presumed to be stable. Provisionally, all populations should be protected.
Copyright © May 1994 Craig H. Reiser.