Desert Sage [Salvia eremostachya Jeps.]
Listing CNPS List 4 R-E-D Code 1-1-1
State/Federal. Status -- /C3c LAMIACEAE Mar.-May
Global Rank G3? State Rank S?
Distribution: San Diego County, Riverside County; Baja California, Mexico
Habitat: Sonoran Desert Scrub (oftentimes among granitic boulders) on the eastern flanks of the Peninsular Range is the preferred habitat of this sage. Acid Igneous rock lands are utilized in the canyons on Montezuma Grade.
Known Sites: Several shrubs were seen in a remote canyon off Montezuma Grade frequented by Bighorn Sheep. Herbarium specimens examined are from Indian Canyon in the Collins Valley, Hellhole Canyon, Yucca Valley, and Rockhouse Canyon in San Diego County; also 4.9 miles northeast of Pinon Flats in Riverside County. Old reports are from the following desert locales: Horse Canyon, Coyote Canyon, Sheep Canyon, Cougar Canyon, Bennis Bowl, Alcoholic Pass, south of Villager Peak, and at Turkey Track. Old reports are from several locales along Highway 74 east of Pinyon Pines to west of Palm Desert, near the Santa Rosa Mountain Truck Trail, near both Nance Canyon and Alder Canyon in the Santa Rosa Mountains, near Garnet Ridge in the San Jacinto Mountains, near Idyllwild, the Forbes Ranch, Garner Valley, Mountain Center, and Martinez Mountain. It is also reported from Deep Canyon in the Coachella Valley of Riverside County.
Twelve specimens from Baja California are found in the herbarium at the San Diego Natural History Museum; south to 28 43' North where collected by Moran (SD 60725) on a rocky hillside near San Luis Mine.
Status: Desert Sage populations are presumed stable; little historical loss of habitat has occurred on the rocky and quite arid, desert slopes of the Peninsular Range. Substantial portions of all sizeable populations are recommended for protection.
Copyright © May 1994 Craig H. Reiser.