DRAFT
March 2012
PLANTS
Orocopia Sage (Salvia greatae)
Orocopia Sage
(Salvia greatae)
Legal Status
State: S21
California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.32
Federal: Bureau of Land Management Sensitive
Critical Habitat: N/A
Recovery Planning: N/A
Taxonomy
Orocopia sage (Salvia greatae) is a perennial shrub in the mint family
(Lamiaceae) (CNPS 2011). The taxonomic status of Orocopia sage is
stable (Jepson Flora Project 2011). Townshend Stith Brandegee
described this species in 1906 (IPNI 2011), and type specimens were
collected by Hall in 1905 (CCH 2011). Orocopia sage stands less than 1
meter (3.3 feet) high (Jepson Flora Project 2011). Descriptions of the
species’ physical characteristics can be found in Abrams (1951, cited
in NatureServe 2011) and the Jepson eFlora (Jepson Flora Project
2011).
Distribution
General
Orocopia sage is restricted to extreme southeastern California, in
Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties (CDFG 2012). There
are 26 total California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) records
for this species, including 2 in Imperial County and 24 in Riverside
County. Twelve of the CNDDB records occur within the Plan Area and
are discussed below.
Within Imperial County, Orocopia sage has been observed in the Frink
NW and Frink U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangles, located in
1
2
S2: Imperiled
1B: Rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. X.3: Not very threatened in California.
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Orocopia Sage (Salvia greatae)
the far northwestern corner of the county. The vast majority of the
occurrences are located in south central Riverside County, in the
following quadrangles: Corn Spring, Durmid, Frink NW, Mortmar,
Orocopia Canyon, and Red Canyon (CDFG 2012). The species has also
been reported in the Desert Center quadrangle (CNPS 2011).
Figure SP-P19 shows the species’ range in California.
Distribution and Occurrences within the Plan Area
Historical
Of the 12 CNDDB records for Orocopia sage within the Plan Area, 3
were originally added prior to 1990, and all of these sites have not
been seen after 1990. All of the sites are at least partially within public
lands, although one site is at least partially on private property in
addition to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and the Salton
Sea State Recreation Area run by the California Department of Parks
and Recreation. Another site is administered by the BLM. One record
is wholly within the Department of Defense’s Chocolate Mountains
Aerial Gunnery Range (AGR) (CDFG 2012).
Recent
Nine CNDDB records within the Plan Area have been added after
1990, and all of these records are within the Chocolate Mountains
AGR (CDFG 2012). In addition, there are two California Consortium of
Herbaria (CCH) records from 2003, apparently on BLM lands, and one
from 2004, all in the Chocolate Mountains; the remaining 45 CCH
records for this species are historic (CCH 2012).
Figure SP-P19 shows the species model for Orocopia sage, with both
historical and recent occurrences overlaid (CDFG 2012).
Natural History
Habitat Requirements
Orocopia sage occurs in Sonoran desert scrub within broad alluvial
bajadas and fans adjacent to desert washes and in desert dry wash
woodlands (CDFG 2012; CVAG 2007). Edaphic requirements are
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Orocopia Sage (Salvia greatae)
gravelly or rocky soil, or rocky slopes of canyons (CDFG 2012). Many
of the CNDDB records report plants growing in canyons or washes on
alluvial soils. The species does not appear to occur within the
immediate wash zone (CVAG 2007).
This species has been observed at elevations of -40 to 825 meters (131 to 2,707 feet) (CNPS 2011; CDFG 2012; Jepson Flora Project
2011), with the lowest elevations documented from Imperial County
near the Salton Sea and the highest elevations recorded from the
Orocopia, Chocolate, and Chuckwalla mountain ranges. The
Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CV
MSHCP) cites elevations of up to “2,800 feet in the Orocopia
Mountains” (CVAG 2007).
Associated species appear to be cheesebush (Ambrosia [Hymenoclea]
salsola), sweetbush (Bebbia juncea), indigo-bush (Psorothamnus
schottii), brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), and creosote bush (Larrea
tridentata). A number of records note that very little white bur-sage
(Ambrosia dumosa) appears alongside Orocopia sage individuals
(CDFG 2012). North, west, and southwest aspects are noted for sites
where Orocopia sage has been documented as well as on the southfacing slopes of the Orocopia Mountains (CDFG 2012; CVAG 2007).
Table 1. Habitat Associations for Orocopia Sage
Land Cover
Type
Sonoran
desert scrub
Habitat
Designation
Primary
habitat
Habitat Parameters
Alluvial fans adjacent to
desert washes, 131 to
2,800 feet elevation
Supporting
Information
CDFG 2012; CVAG
2007
Reproduction
Little is known of the life history and ecology of Orocopia sage (CVAG
2007). Pollination of Orocopia sage appears to be carried out by bees
or butterflies, or a combination of both (Wester and Claßen-Bockhoff
2011). Flowering of this perennial evergreen shrub occurs from
March to April (CNPS 2011; Jepson Flora Project 2011). Nutlets are
brown to gray, flat, and approximately 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.1
inch) wide (Jepson Flora Project 2011).
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Orocopia Sage (Salvia greatae)
Ecological Relationships
Little is known about the species’ ecological relationships. As
mentioned previously, it appears to depend on bees and/or butterflies
for pollination, but this assumption is based on flower morphology
rather than empirical observation; exact pollinator species identities
are unknown (Wester and Claßen-Bockhoff 2011).
Population Status and Trends
Global: G2, Imperiled (CDFG 2012b)
State: S2, Imperiled (CDFG 2012b)
Orocopia sage is classified as a 1B.3 rare plant species by the
California Rare Plant Rank (CRPR) system. Species with the 1B rank
are rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. The
0.3 threat rank indicates that this species is not very endangered
(<20% of occurrences threatened, or a low degree and immediacy of
threat or no current threats known) in California.
Orocopia sage is typically one of the dominant members of the
vegetation where it occurs (CVAG 2007). However, population sizes
and densities are poorly understood. The CV MSHCP cites populations
of 50 to 1,000 individuals during surveys conducted by K. Barrows in
1986 (CVAG 2007). University of California, Riverside, (UCR)
Herbarium botanists conducted reconnaissance surveys of known
Orocopia sage populations in 2002, but results indicated the need for
additional surveys. Of the 15 occurrences visited at that time, the UCR
botanists could not locate two populations, two new populations were
located, and four populations appeared to be much larger than
previously described (Allen 2003, cited in CVAG 2007). In addition,
unknown and isolated populations of Orocopia sage could be at risk.
Threats and Environmental Stressors
Threats to Orocopia sage are minimal because most of the known
occurrences of this species are within protected public lands,
including the Mecca Hills, Orocopia Mountains, and Chuckwalla
Mountains Wilderness Areas, established by the 1994 Desert
Protection Act (CVAG 2007). In addition, most occurrences are on
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Orocopia Sage (Salvia greatae)
rocky slopes or alluvial fans that are either some distance from major
roads or inaccessible to off-highway vehicle (OHV) traffic (CVAG
2007; CDFG 2012).
A number of CNDDB occurrences are located within the boundaries of
the Chocolate Mountains AGR. Threats resulting from the activities
conducted at the Chocolate Mountains AGR are primarily indirect
threats, such as increased dust levels resulting from vehicle
movement or explosions of ordnances. Dust pollution can lower
photosynthetic processes, as well as disrupt potential pollinators. The
Department of the Navy is initiating a request to Congress that it
continue to use the land comprising the Chocolate Mountains AGR for
another 25 years after the current arrangement expires in 2014
(Department of the Navy 2011).
Conservation and Management Activities
The CV MSHCP establishes the framework for the conservation of
68,950 acres of potential habitat for Orocopia sage. These
conservation areas are located in the Mecca Hills/Orocopia Mountains
Conservation Area, Dos Palmas Conservation Area of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACEC), and in the Chuckwalla Desert Wildlife
Management Area/ACEC (CVAG 2007). The CV MSHCP also outlines
goals for biological monitoring of these populations and adaptive
management to maintain the long-term persistence of self-sustaining
populations and quality habitat (CVAG 2007).
In addition, the BLM manages sensitive plants, including Orocopia sage,
on lands it administers. Management priorities include, but are not
limited to, the following: developing and implementing range-wide
and/or site-specific management plans for sensitive plant species that
include specific habitat and population management objectives
designed for recovery; ensuring that BLM activities affecting the habitat
of sensitive plant species are carried out in a manner consistent with
the objectives for managing those species; and monitoring populations
and habitats of candidate plant species to determine whether
management objectives are being met (BLM 2003).
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Orocopia Sage (Salvia greatae)
Data Characterization
A population trends analysis for Orocopia sage is made difficult by a
limited understanding of the species’ true distribution and abundance
within the Plan Area. The areas where this species has been
documented are remote and not thoroughly surveyed (CDFG 2012). In
addition, there is very little research available on the species’
microhabitat requirements (e.g., soil types, how alluvial processes
affect the plant), reproductive processes (e.g., requirements for seed
germination, how long seeds remain viable in the soil) and
interactions with climatic forces (e.g., how long plants can survive
dormancy, what rainfall amounts are required for plants to set seeds).
In addition, no research exists on the genetic viability of these
populations, which are extremely restricted in range. Finally, it is
unclear how propagation of this species is best conducted—that is,
through transplantation, cuttings, or spreading seed. These data could
assist with establishing conservation priorities for this species.
Management and Monitoring Considerations
Species protection activities should focus on occurrences known to
occur in the Plan Area, as well as protection of the modeled habitat
(CDFG 2012; CVAG 2007). The long-term viability of populations may
also rely on the protection of habitat corridors between these
populations. Because so little is known about the abundance and
distribution of Orocopia sage in California, and because this plant
often goes dormant and loses all of its leaves during drought, focused
surveys for this species should be conducted within appropriate
habitat in high rainfall years in the Plan Area (CVAG 2007). During
high rainfall years, surveys and monitoring may be possible yearround because it is an evergreen, perennial shrub.
Predicted Species Distribution in Plan Area
There are 1,120,944 acres of modeled suitable habitat for Orocopia
sage in the Plan Area. Modeled suitable habitat occurs in the southern
portion of the Plan Area from -200 to 2,800 feet in elevation. Modeled
suitable habitat includes shrub and riparian vegetation communities.
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Orocopia Sage (Salvia greatae)
Appendix C includes specific model parameters and a figure showing
the modeled suitable habitat in the Plan Area.
Literature Cited
BLM (Bureau of Land Management). 2003. “Special Status Plant
Management.” BLM-California Manual Supplement 6840.06.
Last revised January 3, 2003. Accessed November 21, 2011.
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib//blm/ca/pdf/
pdfs/pa_pdfs/biology_pdfs.Par.428edb73.File.pdf/
6840.06-supplement.pdf.
CCH (Consortium of California Herbaria). 2011. Accession results for
Salvia greatae. Accessed November 2011.
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/consortium.
CDFG (California Department of Fish and Game). 2012a. “Salvia
greatae.” Element Occurrence Query. California Natural
Diversity Database (CNDDB). RareFind, Version 4.0
(Commercial Subscription). Sacramento, California: CDFG,
Biogeographic Data Branch. Accessed February 2012.
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cnddb/mapsanddata.asp.
CDFG. 2012b. Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List.
California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). January 2012.
Accessed March 2012. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/
cnddb/plants_and_animals.asp.
CNPS (California Native Plant Society). 2011. “Salvia greatae.”
Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants. Online ed. Version 801a. Sacramento, California: CNPS. Accessed November 22,
2011. http://www.cnps.org/inventory.
CVAG (Coachella Valley Association of Governments). 2007. “Species
Accounts and Conservation Measures.” Section 9.0 in Final
Recirculated Coachella Valley MSHCP – September 2007.
Accessed November 22, 2011. http://www.cvmshcp.org/
Plan_Documents.htm#plan.
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Orocopia Sage (Salvia greatae)
Department of the Navy. 2011. “Chocolate Mountains Aerial Gunnery
Range Land Withdrawal Renewal.” Accessed December 1,
2011. http://www.chocolatemountainrenewal.com/
html/projectinformation.html.
IPNI (International Plant Names Index). 2011. “Plant Name Details:
Salvia greatae.” Accessed November 22, 2011.
http://www.ipni.org/.
Jepson Flora Project. 2011. “Salvia greatae.” D.E. Averett. Jepson eFlora
[v. 1.0]. Berkeley, California: University of California. Accessed
November 22, 2011. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/
interchange/IJM.html.
NatureServe. 2011. “Salvia greatae.” NatureServe Explorer: An Online
Encyclopedia of Life. Version 7.1. Arlington, Virginia:
NatureServe. Accessed November 2011.
http://www.natureserve.org/explorer.
Wester, P., and R. Claßen-Bockhoff. 2011. “Pollination Syndromes of
New World Salvia Species with Special Reference to Bird
Pollination.” Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden
98(1):101–155.
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