Rare Plant Updates
Ornithostaphylos oppositifolia
Baja California birdbush
December, 1999

Ornithostaphylos oppositifolia (Baja California birdbush), a member of the Eriacaceae with a single United States occurrence (this is the only U.S. representative of this genus that is more widespread in Baja California, Mexico) has been advanced to candidacy for endangered status under the California Endangered Species Act. The species occurrence within the United States is on a single mesa adjacent to the border in an area proposed for destruction for construction of a border fence and road. This area is largely owned by County Parks and is part of the MSCP preserve. Hopefully a border project that would permit the continued existence of the species in its natural habitat would also result in protection for Ceanothus verrucosus (wart-stemmed ceanothus), Coreopsis maritima (sea dahlia), Bergerocactus emoryi (goldenspined cereus), Euphorbia misera (cliff spurge), Opuntia parryi var. serpentina (snake cholla), Ribes viburnifolium (Santa Catalina Island currant- the sole mainland population), Camissonia lewisii (Lewis' evening primrose), and Ferocactus viridescens (coast barrel cactus). We visited the area on a fieldtrip last year during the dry season and hope to be able to visit the area again this coming spring when more will be blooming.

Thank you to those that provided technical information and/or review of the listing package: Mitch Beauchamp, Jim Dice, George Diggs, Rod Dossey, Mark Elvin, Barbara Ertter, Keith Greer, Dylan Hannon, Don Hohimer, Randy Lyle, Tom Oberbauer, Bart O'Brien, Craig Reiser, Fred Roberts, Vince Scheidt, Julie Vanderwier, and Gary Wallace. -- Cindy Burrascano