Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Endangered Status for Four Plants and Threatened Status for One Plant From the Central Sierran Foothills of California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC47

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed

Endangered Status for Four Plants and Threatened Status for One Plant

From the Central Sierran Foothills of California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes

endangered status pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended (Act) for four plants: Calystegia stebbinsii (Stebbins'

morning-glory), Ceanothus roderickii (Pine Hill ceanothus),

Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens (Pine Hill flannelbush),

and Galium californicum ssp. sierrae (El Dorado bedstraw). The Service

also proposes threatened status for Senecio layneae (Layne's

butterweed). These species all occur on gabbro or serpentine soils in

the central Sierran foothills of California within chaparral or oak

woodland communities. Urbanization and its ensuing habitat

fragmentation, inadequate regulatory mechanisms, road construction and

maintenance, grading, herbicide spraying, change in fire frequency,

off-road vehicle use, unauthorized dumping, excessive grazing

practices, competition from invasive alien vegetation, and mining

imperil these five species. This proposal, if made final, would

implement the Federal protection and recovery provisions afforded by

the Act for these plants.

DATES: Comments from all interested parties must be received by July

19, 1994. Public hearing requests must be received by June 6, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning this proposal should be

sent to the Field Supervisor, Sacramento Field Office, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, room E-1803, Sacramento, California

95825-1846. Comments and materials received will be available for

public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the

above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kirsten Tarp, Sacramento Field Office

(see ADDRESSES section) at 916/978-4866.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Calystegia stebbinsii (Stebbins' morning-glory), Ceanothus

roderickii (Pine Hill ceanothus), Fremontodendron californicum ssp.

decumbens (Pine Hill flannelbush), Galium californicum ssp. sierrae (El

Dorado bedstraw), and Senecio layneae (Layne's butterweed) occur

primarily on the Pine Hill intrusion, an area of approximately 10,400

hectares (25,700 acres), in western El Dorado County, California,

ranging in elevation from 138 to 628 meters (453 to 2,060 feet). In

addition, C. stebbinsii and S. layneae have a few known isolated

occurrences in either El Dorado, Nevada, or Tuolumne Counties,

California. All of the species included in this proposal exhibit

substrate preferences. C. roderickii, F. californicum ssp. decumbens,

and G. californicum ssp. sierrae are endemic to gabbro-derived soils on

the Pine Hill intrusion, and C. stebbinsii and S. layneae occur on

gabbro and serpentine-derived soils. One known occurrence of S. layneae

was found on metamorphic-derived soils.

Gabbroic soils are derived from mafic rocks (gabbrodiorite) that

are mildly acidic, are rich in iron and magnesium, and often contain

other heavy metals such as chromium (Wilson 1986). Gabbro, a dark

large-crystalled rock, is formed when liquid magma cools slowly

underground. A red soil is formed when the rock is exposed and weathers

at the earth's surface (EIP Associates 1991). These soils are well-

drained and are underlain by gabbrodiorite rocks at a depth of more

than 1 meter (3.28 feet) (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil

Conservation Service 1974).

Serpentine-derived soils are formed through a process similar to

the formation of gabbroic soils. Serpentine soils are derived from

ultramafic rocks (e.g., serpentinite, dunite, and peridotite). They

tend to have high concentrations of magnesium, chromium, and nickel,

and low concentrations of calcium, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus

(Kruckeberg 1984). ``Gabbro soils are considered to be edaphically

similar to serpentine because of their mineral composition and because

they appear to influence plant distributions in much the same way''

(Wilson 1986).

The three plant communities occurring on the Pine Hill intrusion

are chaparral, oak woodland, and savanna. The vegetation type of this

area is distinctive enough that Robert Holland, based upon Wilson's

research (1986), designated a community known as gabbroic northern

mixed chaparral. This community is characterized by being ``edaphically

restricted to ultramafic [sic] gabbro in a mixed chaparral which is

dominated by Adenostoma fasiculatum (chamise), and usually occurring on

rather xeric exposures'' (Holland 1986). Calystegia stebbinsii,

Ceanothus roderickii, Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens, and

Senecio layneae occur in fire-dependent chaparral habitat;

Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens and Senecio layneae also

occur in the ecotone between chaparral and oak woodland; Galium

californicum ssp. sierrae and Senecio layneae occur in oak woodland

(Wilson 1986). None of the plants in this proposal occur within

savanna, which comprises approximately 27 percent of the vegetation on

the Pine Hill intrusion.

Loss of habitat, fragmentation, and alteration of natural ecosystem

processes have resulted from residential and commercial development.

Housing and commercial development, inadequate regulatory mechanisms,

road maintenance, grading, change in fire frequency, unauthorized

dumping, excessive grazing practices, herbicide spraying, mining, and

other human-caused conditions threaten the remaining occurrences of

these plants.

Discussion of the Five Species Proposed for Listing

G. Ledyard Stebbins collected the type specimen of Calystegia

stebbinsii in 1970, 17 kilometers (10 miles) west of Placerville in El

Dorado County, California. Richard K. Brummitt (1974) described the

species using specimens collected by Stebbins as the type.

Calystegia stebbinsii is a leafy perennial herb in the morning-

glory family (Convolvulaceae). Its stems, which range up to 1 meter

(3.28 feet) in length, generally lie flat on the ground. The leaves are

palmately lobed with the two outermost lobes being divided again. The

leaf lobes are narrow and lance-shaped. White flowers, which appear in

May through June, are on stalks 3 to 13 centimeters (1 to 5 inches)

long and bear two leaf-like bracts. The fruit is a slender capsule. Its

distinctively shaped leaves, each having 7 to 9 narrow lance-shaped

lobes, distinguish C. stebbinsii from other California morning-glories.

Calystegia stebbinsii occurs in two localized areas. Most

occurrences of C. stebbinsii are discontinuously scattered within two

population centers in the northern and southern portions of the Pine

Hill intrusion. C. stebbinsii does not occur at the center of the

intrusion on Pine Hill. It was recently discovered in Nevada County

near the County landfill, where it was sparsely scattered over

distances of 6.5 kilometers (3.5 miles) (California Natural Diversity

Database (CNDDB) 1992). In El Dorado County it is associated with

chaparral on gabbro soils. In Nevada County it occurs on serpentine. It

was possibly transplanted from El Dorado County by the transport of

soil to the Nevada County Sanitary Landfill (Carla DeCrona, California

Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), pers. comm., 1992; The Union 1991).

C. stebbinsii occurs primarily on privately owned land. The Bureau of

Land Management (BLM) manages land for some occurrences. Development

has extirpated at least one-third of the known occurrences (CDFG

1990a). Other threats to these populations include inadequate

regulatory mechanisms, off-road vehicle use, grading, dumping, road

maintenance, change in fire frequency, and competition with invasive

alien vegetation.

Beecher Crampton first collected Ceanothus roderickii in 1956 from

Pine Hill in El Dorado County. Walter Knight described C. roderickii in

1968, naming it after Wayne Roderick, who first suspected the

horticultural value of this endemic shrub (Knight 1968). Walter Knight

(1968) considered C. roderickii to be most closely related to C.

cuneatus, which also grows throughout the area. C. roderickii can be

differentiated from its congeners by its blue-tinged flowers, prostrate

habit, and inconspicuously horned fruit.

Ceanothus roderickii is a prostrate evergreen shrub of the

buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae) that generally grows to 3 meters (9.84

feet) in diameter. The smooth gray-brown branches radiate from a

central axis and root when they come into contact with the ground. Its

leaves are semi-erect with entire margins. Small whitish flowers tinged

with blue appear from May through June. Its fruit is an inconspicuously

horned globe-shaped capsule.

Ceanothus roderickii is restricted to gabbro soil in openings in

chaparral or more infrequently on previously disturbed sites within

chaparral (Wilson 1986). It is restricted to one localized area of

approximately 10 known extant occurrences discontinuously scattered in

the Pine Hill intrusion (CNDDB 1992). Residential and commercial

development, inadequate regulatory mechanisms, off-road vehicle use,

road-widening, change in fire frequency, and other human-caused

conditions are responsible for the decline of C. roderickii. Commercial

development has extirpated two known occurrences. C. roderickii occurs

primarily on private land. BLM owns part of one site and the California

Department of Forestry (CDF) owns another site.

Beecher Crampton made the first collection of Fremontodendron

californicum ssp. decumbens in 1956. Robert M. Lloyd (1965) described

F. californicum ssp. decumbens as F. decumbens based on the type Lloyd

collected in May 1964 from ``California, El Dorado Co., Pine Hill, ca.

3 kilometers north of Rescue.'' Philip Munz (1968) reduced F. decumbens

to a subspecies of F. californicum. Walter M. Kelman (1991), in his

revision of Fremontodendron, recognized F. californicum ssp. decumbens

as a full species based upon morphological variation. This taxon is

currently known as Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens

(Whetstone and Atkinson 1993).

Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens is a branched spreading

shrub of the cacao family (Sterculiaceae) growing to 1.3 meters (4

feet) tall. Dense star-shaped hairs cover the leaves and the younger

twigs and branchlets. Its leaves are elliptic-ovate to ovate, shallowly

or deeply palmately lobed with 5 to 7 lobes. Showy light-orange to

reddish-brown flowers appear from late April to early July. Its fruit

is a capsule. F. californicum ssp. decumbens can be distinguished from

F. californicum ssp. californicum and F. mexicanum by its decumbent

growth habit, its relatively long peduncles, and its copper-orange

flowers.

Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens occurs on scattered

rocky outcrops either in chaparral or in the ecotone between woodland

and chaparral. It depends on fire to promote seed germination. It is

only known from one localized area near Pine Hill in western El Dorado

County scattered within an area of approximately 2,000 hectares (5,000

acres). Although there are some reports of F. californicum ssp.

decumbens occurring in some small scattered populations in Yuba or

Nevada County, other reports describe these individuals as aberrant F.

californicum ssp. californicum. F. californicum ssp. decumbens occurs

primarily on private land, but one site is on BLM land. CDF and CDFG

also own another site.

The largest population of Fremontodendron californicum ssp.

decumbens is on the Pine Hill Ecological Reserve managed by CDFG. The

proximity of this plant to human population centers and intensive

development activities renders F. californicum ssp. decumbens

vulnerable to the long-term effects of fire suppression. Its restricted

distribution increases its susceptibility to catastrophic events such

as disease or pest outbreak, severe drought, or other natural or human-

caused disasters. In addition, residential and commercial development

(including unregulated grading for homes or barns on existing large

parcels), inadequate regulatory mechanisms, and trash dumping threaten

F. californicum ssp. decumbens.

The type specimen for Galium californicum ssp. sierrae was

collected 1.7 kilometers (1 mile) north of Pine Hill Lookout in western

El Dorado County, California. Lauramay Dempster and G. Ledyard Stebbins

(1968) described G. californicum ssp. sierrae.

Galium californicum ssp. sierrae is a softly hairy perennial herb

in the coffee family (Rubiaceae). Four narrow leaves are arranged at

each node. The pale yellow flowers, which are clustered at the tips of

stems, appear in May and June. Minute hairs cover the fleshy fruit. It

can be distinguished from other subspecies of G. californicum by its

very narrow leaves.

Galium californicum ssp. sierrae is restricted to one localized

area; the Pine Hill and surrounding ridges to the west within a

distance of approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) (Baad and Hanna

1987). It inhabits oak woodland areas, including sites with ponderosa

pine and digger pine (Wilson 1986). G. californicum ssp. sierrae occurs

primarily on private land. BLM manages at least one population, and it

is not clear whether another existing population occurs on BLM or on

private land. CDF and CDFG manage one site as well. Residential

development, inadequate regulatory mechanisms, road construction,

grazing, and irrigation threaten G. californicum ssp. sierrae. Its

restricted distribution and limited numbers of individuals make it

susceptible to catastrophic events such as disease or pest outbreak,

severe drought, or other natural or human-caused disasters.

Kate Layne-Curran collected the type for Senecio layneae in May

1883 from El Dorado County, California, on Sweetwater Creek, not far

from Folsom. Edward L. Greene first described S. layneae in 1883

(Greene 1883). Although Asa Gray reduced S. layneae to a variety of S.

fastigiatus (1884), it currently is known as S. layneae (Barkley 1993).

The type population is now thought to be extirpated due to inundation

by Folsom Lake.

Senecio layneae is a perennial herb of the aster family

(Asteraceae) that sprouts from a rootstock. Its mostly basal lance-

shaped leaves are 8 to 24 centimeters (3 to 10 inches) long. The

several flower heads are 4 to 6 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) wide each

having 5 to 8 orange-yellow ray flowers and numerous yellow disk

flowers. S. layneae flowers between April and June.

Senecio layneae grows in open rocky areas within chaparral plant

communities, primarily on gabbro soil formations and occasionally on

serpentine soils. Most known sites are scattered within a 16,200

hectare (40,000-acre) area in western El Dorado County. A few other

colonies occur in the Eldorado National Forest in El Dorado County and

in the BLM Red Hills Management Area in Tuolumne County (BioSystems

Analysis, Inc. 1984). S. layneae primarily occurs on privately owned

land. Some populations of S. layneae also occur on Federal land managed

either by the Forest Service or BLM. One site is on land managed by CDF

and CDFG. Residential and commercial development, inadequate regulatory

mechanisms, road maintenance, change in fire frequency, off-road

vehicle use, competition with invasive alien vegetation, excessive

grazing practices, mining and other human-caused conditions threaten

and are responsible for the declining trend for S. layneae (CDFG 1990b,

CNDDB 1992).

Previous Federal Action

Federal government actions on the five plants began as a result of

section 12 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.

1531 et seq.), which directed the Secretary of the Smithsonian

Institution to prepare a report on those plants considered to be

endangered, threatened, or extinct in the United States. This report,

designated as House Document No. 94-51, was presented to Congress on

January 9, 1975, and included Fremontodendron decumbens (now known as

Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens), Galium californicum ssp.

sierrae, and Senecio layneae as endangered and Ceanothus roderickii as

threatened species. The Service published a notice in the July 1, 1975,

Federal Register (40 FR 27823) of its acceptance of the report of the

Smithsonian Institution as a petition within the context of section

4(c)(2) (petition provisions are now found in section 4(b)(3) of the

Act) and its intention thereby to review the status of the plant taxa

named therein. The above four taxa were included in the July 1, 1975,

notice. On June 16, 1976, the Service published a proposal in the

Federal Register (41 FR 24523) to determine approximately 1,700

vascular plant species, including C. stebbinsii, F. decumbens, G.

californicum ssp. sierrae, and S. layneae, to be endangered species

pursuant to section 4 of the Act. The list of 1,700 plant taxa was

assembled on the basis of comments and data received by the Smithsonian

Institution and the Service in response to House Document No. 94-51 and

the July 1, 1975, Federal Register publication.

General comments received in relation to the 1976 proposal were

summarized in an April 26, 1978, Federal Register publication (43 FR

17909). The Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1978 required that all

proposals over 2 years old be withdrawn. A 1-year grace period was

given to those proposals already more than 2 years old. In the December

10, 1979, Federal Register (44 FR 70796), the Service published a

notice of withdrawal of the June 16, 1976, proposal, along with four

other proposals that had expired.

The Service published an updated notice of review for plants on

December 15, 1980 (45 FR 82480). This notice included Calystegia

stebbinsii, Fremontodendron decumbens, Galium californicum ssp.

sierrae, and Senecio layneae as category 1 candidates for Federal

listing, and Ceanothus roderickii as a category 2 candidate. Category 1

taxa are those for which the Service has on file substantial

information on biological vulnerability and threats to support

preparation of listing proposals. Category 2 taxa are those for which

data in the Service's possession indicate listing is possibly

appropriate, but for which substantial data on biological vulnerability

and threats are not currently known or on file to support proposed

rules. On November 28, 1983, the Service published in the Federal

Register a supplement to the Notice of Review (48 FR 53640). This

supplement changed C. stebbinsii, F. decumbens, G. californicum ssp.

sierrae, and S. layneae from category 1 to category 2 candidates.

The September 27, 1985 (50 FR 39526), plant notice of review

included Calystegia stebbinsii, Ceanothus roderickii, Fremontodendron

californicum ssp. decumbens (as Fremontodendron decumbens), Galium

californicum ssp. sierrae, and Senecio layneae as category 2

candidates. The February 21, 1990 (55 FR 6184), and September 30, 1993

(58 FR 51144), plant notices of review included C. roderickii and F.

californicum ssp. decumbens (as F. decumbens) as category 1 candidates

and C. stebbinsii, G. californicum ssp. sierrae, and S. layneae as

category 2 candidates. On December 9, 1993, the Service issued petition

findings for 990 candidate species that had been under ``warranted but

precluded'' findings, including C. stebbinsii, G. californicum ssp.

sierrae, and S. layneae (58 FR 64828). The Service detailed in the

notice of findings the reasons the data were insufficient, at that

time, to either propose or assign these plants to category 3. For C.

stebbinsii, the Service indicated that current information on this

species was based on reports from only a small portion of its known

range, and population trends for the remaining range were unknown. For

G. californicum ssp. sierrae and S. layneae, the Service noted that

population trends for the remaining range were unknown and ecological

or other biological requirements were uncertain. Since the preparation

of that notice, additional information was received on the status of C.

stebbinsii, G. californicum ssp. sierrae, and S. layneae, which

resulted in the elevation of these species to category 1.

Section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act requires the Secretary to make

certain findings on pending petitions within 12 months of their

receipt. Section 2(b)(1) of the 1982 amendments further requires that

all petitions pending on October 13, 1982, be treated as having been

newly submitted on that date. This was the case for Ceanothus

roderickii, Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens, Galium

californicum ssp. sierrae, and Senecio layneae because the 1975

Smithsonian report was accepted as a petition. On October 13, 1982, the

Service found that the petitioned listing of these species was

warranted but precluded by other pending listing actions in accordance

with section 4(b)(3)(B)(iii) of the Act. Notification of this finding

was published on January 20, 1984 (49 FR 2485). Such a finding requires

the petition to be recycled, pursuant to section 4(b)(3)(C)(i) of the

Act. The finding was reaffirmed annually in October of 1983 through

1993. Publication of this proposal constitutes the final finding for

the petitioned action.

Summary of Factors Affecting the Species

Section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C 1533) and regulations (50 CFR part

424) promulgated to implement the listing provisions of the Act set

forth the procedures for adding species to the Federal lists of

endangered and threatened species. A species may be determined to be

endangered or threatened due to one or more of the five factors

described in section 4(a)(1). These factors and their application to

Calystegia stebbinsii Brummitt (Stebbins' morning-glory), Ceanothus

roderickii Knight (Pine Hill ceanothus), Fremontodendron californicum

ssp. decumbens (Lloyd) Munz (Pine Hill flannelbush), Galium

californicum H. & A. ssp. sierrae Dempster & Stebbins (El Dorado

bedstraw), and Senecio layneae Greene (Layne's butterweed) are as

follows:

A. The Present or Threatened Destruction, Modification, or

Curtailment of Its Habitat or Range. At least 80 percent of the

occurrences for these five plant species are on private land. They

primarily occur on the Pine Hill intrusion, an area of approximately

10,400 hectares (25,700 acres) in western El Dorado County. A few

isolated occurrences of Calystegia stebbinsii or Senecio layneae are

known in either El Dorado, Nevada, or Tuolumne Counties (EIP Associates

1991, CNDDB 1992). The primary threat facing these five species and

their associated habitat is the ongoing and threatened destruction and

modification of habitat by one or more of the following: urbanization

and its ensuing habitat fragmentation, road construction and

maintenance, off-road vehicle use, grading, and mining.

Nearly all the remaining occurrences of all five species are

threatened by destruction of habitat through residential or commercial

development. The human population of the four counties just east of the

Sacramento metropolitan area (Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, and Amador)

increased 375 percent between 1960 and 1992 (Engellenner 1993). El

Dorado County, which has a projected population growth of 54 percent

between 1990 and 2005, is one of the most rapidly growing counties in

California (California Department of Finance 1991, Jones and Stokes

Associates 1992). In 1991, the population grew by 4.2 percent; faster

than the projected growth rate of 3.6 percent (California Department of

Finance 1992). Western El Dorado County is becoming a bedroom community

as it is easily accessible by freeway from several nearby cities

including Sacramento. Most of the new residential growth in El Dorado

County is expected to occur within western El Dorado County near

Highway 50 (Jones and Stokes Associates 1992), which crosses the

southern portion of the Pine Hill intrusion.

Within the gabbro soil and adjacent serpentine formations in

western El Dorado County, 39 proposed development projects, which

variously threaten to fragment the habitat of all five species, are

currently on file with El Dorado County. A 730-hectare (1,800-acre)

development is only 1 of 16 large projects proposed in El Dorado County

(Wiegand 1991). Development currently is planned for approximately 5

percent of this 16,200-hectare (40,000-acre) area. In addition, the El

Dorado County General Plan update proposes the conversion of vacant and

agricultural land to various residential uses within the 38,400-hectare

(95,000-acre) western service area of the El Dorado County Irrigation

District (EID) (Jones and Stokes Associates 1992), which encompasses

the entire Pine Hill intrusion.

The proposed land uses within the western service area of the EID

include a 1,000 percent increase in single family residences (from a

current level of 1,857 hectares (4,589 acres) to 20,254 hectares

(50,047 acres)) and a doubling of the rural residential uses (from

7,630 hectares (18,860 acres) to 15,780 hectares (39,000 acres)) (Jones

and Stokes Associates 1992). The El Dorado County Water Agency proposed

the construction of either additional dams, water storage facilities,

or water conveyance lines on the South Fork of the American River

(Jones and Stokes Associates 1992, El Dorado County Water Agency 1993).

The subsequent induced growth would affect all five species in both the

northern and southern portions of the Pine Hill intrusion and adjacent

serpentine, either by further fragmenting the habitat (as discussed

below) or by directly destroying habitat. The increasing number of

people and changes in land uses will continue to place an ever-greater

strain on undeveloped areas through activities such as off-road vehicle

traffic, unauthorized garbage dumping, and changes in the pattern of

wildfires.

Historical gold rush activities and clearing for agriculture

reduced and fragmented habitat of the five plants. Currently, these

plants face threats from habitat fragmentation associated with

commercial and residential development and road construction.

Fragmentation splits habitat into smaller, more isolated units and has

two primary effects. First, habitat fragmentation may alter the

physical environment, changing the amount of incoming solar radiation,

water, wind, or nutrients for the remnant vegetation (Saunders et al.

1991). Second, a higher proportion of these fragmented natural areas is

subject to influences from external factors (e.g., additional

development, lawn and garden watering, herbicide drift, and off-road

vehicular use) that disrupt natural ecosystem processes.

The vegetation structure on the Pine Hill intrusion has changed

significantly due to commercial and residential development, road

construction, and historical fragmentation. Hunter and Horenstein

(1991) characterized vegetation structure on the Pine Hill intrusion

and estimated the median patch size to be only 11 hectares (27 acres).

This degree of fragmentation is significant within chaparral because

plant species will disappear from fragments between 10 and 100 hectares

(25 to 250 acres) in size due to persistent disturbance and potentially

due to change in fire frequency (Soule et al. 1992). These and other

effects of fragmentation are discussed further under Factor E.

Twelve potential preserve sites were identified as the best

remaining habitat for the five plants on the Pine Hill intrusion and

adjacent serpentine (EIP Associates 1991). Within these 12 sites, at

least 11 residential or commercial projects (Bass Lake Estates, Cameron

Ridge, Fremont's Peak, Kanaka Valley, Pinnacles, Ponderosa 50, Sunset

Heights, Woodleigh Ridge, and 3 approved parcel splits) are proposed

(El Dorado County Planning Staff 1992). These projects threaten all

five plants to varying degrees by directly destroying individual plants

or further fragmenting and destroying their habitat.

Activities often associated with rural residential areas, such as

clearing chaparral for fire protection around houses, bulldozing land

(grading for houses or barns), planting fruit trees, and irrigation,

also have modified the habitat within western El Dorado County (James

Jokerst, Jones and Stokes Associates, pers. comm., 1993; Jo Van Ess,

California State University, Sacramento, pers. comm., 1993). The

ongoing repetitive clearing of chaparral destroys the habitat.

Irrigation involved with lawn maintenance also adversely affects these

species (Jo Van Ess, pers. comm., 1993; James Jokerst, pers. comm.,

1993).

Commercial and residential development extirpated at least one-

third of the known occurrences of Calystegia stebbinsii (CDFG 1990a,

CNDDB 1992). Most of the remaining occurrences for C. stebbinsii are on

the Pine Hill intrusion. All of these sites, except for those in the

northern part, are in areas undergoing rapid development and are

threatened by commercial and private development as discussed above.

Habitat for C. stebbinsii in Nevada County is threatened by a proposed

County works project (CDFG 1990a).

Other human activities also destroy or damage habitat of Calystegia

stebbinsii. One occurrence was adversely impacted by grading. Off-road

vehicle use has adversely impacted the habitat of C. stebbinsii at one

site (CNDDB 1992). In the northern part of the Pine Hill intrusion,

several hills are scarred with off-road vehicle tracks. Erosion

promoted by scarring adversely modifies the habitat. Road maintenance

and herbicide spraying potentially threaten another site of C.

stebbinsii that occurs along a road cut (CNDDB 1992).

Shopping center construction and other commercial development

extirpated two occurrences of Ceanothus roderickii (CNDDB 1992). Road-

widening also threatens the habitat of C. roderickii at one site (CNDDB

1992). Off-road vehicle use degrades the habitat at three sites in the

northern part of the gabbro area (CNDDB 1992).

Construction of houses on and near Pine Hill resulted in the loss

of many individuals of Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens

(George Clark, in litt., 1993). Land clearing activities that occur

with road construction also threaten F. californicum ssp. decumbens. In

1968, all the vegetation along the Pine Hill approach road was cut. In

1969, the west slope of Pine Hill was cleared by the CDF, demolishing

80 percent of the F. californicum ssp. decumbens within the boundaries

of the current Pine Hill Ecological Reserve (Baad and Hanna 1987). Most

of these shrubs have resprouted. Presently, the Pine Hill Ecological

Reserve, managed by CDFG, has the largest occurrence of F. californicum

ssp. decumbens.

No known extirpations of Galium californicum ssp. sierrae due to

residential or commercial development have occurred. However, as

discussed above, residential or commercial development and activities

associated with rural residential areas threaten G. californicum ssp.

sierrae within the potential reserve area identified as the best

remaining habitat. G. californicum ssp. sierrae has a very small

population size and a restricted distribution almost entirely on

private land. As discussed above and under Factor E below, small

population size and fragmentation increases the plants' vulnerability

to these threats.

Commercial and residential development extirpated two occurrences

of Senecio layneae (CNDDB 1992). Many of the remaining occurrences of

S. layneae are in areas undergoing rapid commercial and residential

development. S. layneae is also potentially threatened by a variety of

disturbances including road maintenance, vegetation removal, and off-

road vehicle use (CNDDB 1992). Road widening occurs in the vicinity of

development within El Dorado County, and this activity has already

extirpated one occurrence and threatens an additional five sites (CNDDB

1992). Intensive off-road vehicle use threatens two additional

occurrences of this species (CNDDB 1992). Off-road vehicle use occurred

historically in Tuolumne County on BLM land, but no longer occurs

there. Currently, off-road vehicle use occurs on two sites within the

Pine Hill intrusion on privately owned land. One site of S. layneae in

the northern part of the intrusion is impacted by heavy off-road

vehicle use and has been fragmented by the numerous roads that traverse

the entire area. A southern site of S. layneae that occurs across 89

hectares (221 acres) was graded and grubbed in preparation for

development and is subject to off-road vehicle use over part of the

site (CNDDB 1992).

Habitat for Senecio layneae within the Traverse Creek Botanical

Area in Eldorado National Forest historically was fragmented by

serpentine quarrying. In addition, mining claims for semi-precious

stones and gold exist on S. layneae habitat in the Eldorado National

Forest. Although the Eldorado National Forest is trying to withdraw

these claims, this withdrawal action may not be achieved (Mike Foster,

Eldorado National Forest, pers. comm., 1993).

Destruction and fragmentation of habitat by commercial and

residential development is the most significant and imminent threat

facing Calystegia stebbinsii, Ceanothus roderickii, Fremontodendron

californicum ssp. decumbens, Galium californicum ssp. sierrae, and

Senecio layneae. Proposed residential or commercial development within

the Pine Hill intrusion, combined with growth induced by proposed dams

on the South Fork of the American River, threaten the majority of sites

within the Pine Hill intrusion and adjacent serpentine in western El

Dorado County and will adversely impact most of the range of all five

taxa. Road widening, off-road vehicle use, garbage dumping, and other

human-caused conditions associated with increased development threaten

individual occurrences of these five species throughout their

respective ranges.

B. Overutilization for Commercial, Recreational, Scientific, or

Educational Purposes. Overutilization is not currently known to be a

factor for the five plants, but unrestricted collecting for scientific

or horticultural purposes, vandalism, or excessive visits by

individuals interested in seeing rare plants could result from

increased publicity as a result of this proposal. Two of the species

included in this proposal, Ceanothus roderickii and Fremontodendron

californicum ssp. decumbens, have been used horticulturally (Schmidt

1993, Whetstone 1993), but they do not appear to be threatened by

collection in the wild.

C. Disease or predation. Disease is a potential factor for

Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens. In cultivation F.

californicum ssp. decumbens is highly susceptible to a wilt disease

that can kill the plant almost overnight (Knight 1972). It is not known

if this mortality has been observed in the field. Plants proximate to

residences may be vulnerable to supplemental moisture from irrigation

of lawns or gardens. Disease is not known to be a factor for any of the

other taxa.

Intense insect and rodent predation occurs on Fremontodendron

californicum ssp. decumbens. Boyd and Serafini (1992) studied

reproductive attrition in F. californicum ssp. decumbens. They found

that less than 2 percent of flower buds produced fruit because of

predation by insects. In addition, rodents destroyed 90 percent of

seeds under shrubs within 8 to 10 months (Boyd and Serafini 1992).

Since F. californicum ssp. decumbens is very restricted in range and

few individuals exist, this predation increases the chance for

extinction as discussed under Factor E.

Overgrazing by horses in rural residential areas within the Pine

Hill intrusion threaten Calystegia stebbinsii, Galium californicum ssp.

sierrae, and Senecio layneae. The horses, when confined, severely graze

virtually all available vegetation. The herbaceous gabbro plants are

especially likely to be grazed (Jo Van Ess, pers. comm., 1993).

Documentation of population extirpations as a result of disease and

predation does not exist. However, as discussed under Factors A and E,

small population size and fragmentation increases the plants'

vulnerability to predation.

D. The Inadequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms. Calystegia

stebbinsii is listed as an endangered species under the California

Endangered Species Act (chapter 1.5 sec. 2050 et seq. of the California

Fish and Game Code and Title 14 California Code of Regulations 670.2).

Ceanothus roderickii, Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens,

Galium californicum ssp. sierrae, and Senecio layneae are listed by the

State as rare. Individuals are required to obtain a memorandum of

understanding with the CDFG to possess or ``take'' a species listed

under the California Endangered Species Act. Although the ``take'' of

State-listed plants is prohibited (California Native Plant Protection

Act, chapter 10 sec. 1908 and California Endangered Species Act,

chapter 1.5 sec. 2080), State law exempts the taking of such plants via

habitat modification or land use changes by the owner. This State law

does not necessarily prohibit activities that could extirpate these

species. After CDFG notifies a landowner that a State-listed plant

grows on his or her property, State law requires that the landowner

notify the agency ``at least 10 days in advance of changing the land

use to allow salvage of such a plant'' (Native Plant Protection Act,

chapter 10 sec. 1913). Ten days may not allow adequate time for

agencies to coordinate the salvage of the plants.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a full

disclosure of the potential environmental impacts of proposed projects.

The public agency with primary authority or jurisdiction over the

project is designated as the lead agency and is responsible for

conducting a review of the project and consulting with the other

agencies concerned with the resources affected by the project. Section

15065 of the CEQA Guidelines requires a finding of significance if a

project has the potential to ``reduce the number or restrict the range

of a rare or endangered plant or animal.'' Species that are eligible

for listing as rare, threatened, or endangered are given the same

protection as species officially listed under the State or Federal

Endangered Species Acts. Once significant effects are identified, the

lead agency has the option to require mitigation for effects through

changes in the project or to decide that overriding considerations make

mitigation infeasible. In the latter case, projects may be approved

that cause significant environmental damage, such as destruction of

endangered species and their habitats. Protection of listed species

through CEQA is, therefore, dependent upon the discretion of the lead

agency.

Section 21080(b) of CEQA allows certain projects to be exempted

from the CEQA process. Ministerial projects, those projects that the

public agency must approve after the applicant shows compliance with

certain legal requirements, may be approved or carried out without

undertaking CEQA review.

When development occurs and individual project effects are

mitigated in accordance with the provisions in CEQA, the developer

often will set aside small natural areas within the development. These

small ``set asides'' are vulnerable to the problems of habitat

fragmentation as discussed further under Factors A and E. These small

set asides are impractical to manage for fire (discussed further under

Factor E). Land development and multiple ownership makes difficult the

planning and implementation of controlled burns at the appropriate fire

frequency necessary for the maintenance of chaparral.

Within El Dorado County over the past several years, attempts have

been made to establish a preserve system to protect gabbro chaparral

habitat. An initial report on preserve sites and rare plant strategies

was completed in November 1991. The report identified 12 potential

preserve sites. In 1992, El Dorado County held public workshops

concerning this report. A rare plant advisory committee, consisting of

members from the development community, various agencies (CDFG, BLM,

Service), El Dorado County planning staff, CNPS and others, was

established to identify feasible preserve sites, funding mechanisms,

and management strategies for these preserves. The County Board of

Supervisors evaluated the preserve sites identified by the rare plant

advisory committee and eliminated the large southern preserve site. It

approved in principle two other large preserve sites; however, the

majority of the Board did not consider any local funding to establish

or maintain the preserves (George Clark, in litt., 1993; Kirsten Tarp,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, pers. obs., 1993). It is unlikely that

the establishment and maintenance of a sufficient reserve system will

occur without adequate funding.

E. Other Natural or Manmade Factors Affecting Its Continued

Existence. Altered periodicity of fire threatens Calystegia stebbinsii,

Ceanothus roderickii, Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens, and

Senecio layneae. These plants occur within a fire-adapted plant

community, either within chaparral or on the ecotone between chaparral

and woodland. Fire suppression policies have altered natural processes

within several plant communities in California. Historically, fire

occurred in chaparral on the average of 3 to 5 times every 100 years

(Boyd 1985). As described below, fire is important for seed germination

and for seedling reestablishment by eliminating competition and

shading, as well as replenishing nutrients to the soil. Without

periodic fires, the previously mentioned four plants either do not

reproduce by seed or may become shaded by other plants. In a study of

the effects of controlled burning on 3 rare plants occurring on Pine

Hill within western El Dorado County, Boyd (1985, 1987) found that fire

killed C. roderickii shrubs, but caused a 22-fold increase in seed

germination. He also found that the growth rate of seedlings was

greater in the burned area than in the unburned area.

Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens seeds require heat from

fire to germinate. F. californicum ssp. decumbens also resprouts

vegetatively after a burn. In studying reproductive attrition in F.

californicum ssp. decumbens, Boyd and Serafini (1992) found that F.

californicum ssp. decumbens cannot reproduce sexually without fire.

They concluded that to maintain genetic diversity and establish plants

at new localities within the boundaries of the current populations,

sexual reproduction may be necessary over long time periods.

Initial studies also show C. stebbinsii needs disturbance by either

heat or scarification for germination to occur (Tim Nosal, CDFG, pers.

comm., 1993; Paul Boch, Nevada County Agricultural Commissioner, in

litt, 1993). C. stebbinsii also is associated with fire. At the Nevada

County landfill site, this species is more prevalent in the burned

areas than in the unburned areas (Paul Boch, in litt., 1993). C.

stebbinsii is eliminated as soon as the surrounding chaparral grows

tall enough to shade it.

Excessive fire frequency also potentially threatens Ceanothus

roderickii and Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens. These

plants need sufficient time between burns to set enough seed to

replenish the soil seedbank. Mature plants of F. californicum ssp.

decumbens also need to build up carbohydrate reserves to be able to

resprout after a fire (Boyd 1985).

The total suppression of fire or the total suppression of

disturbance threatens Senecio layneae and Calystegia stebbinsii.

Limited surface disturbance has been beneficial to these species in

certain circumstances by promoting initial establishment (James

Jokerst, pers. comm., 1993). S. layneae appears to be an early

successional species that occupies temporary openings on gabbro or

serpentine and is eliminated as vegetation grows up around it (Baad and

Hanna 1987).

Competition with invasive alien vegetation, herbicide spraying, and

unauthorized dumping threaten individual occurrences of Calystegia

stebbinsii. An introduced species of field bind weed, Convolvulus sp.

competes with one colony of Calystegia stebbinsii within Nevada County

(CNDDB 1992). Trash dumping also threatens three occurrences of C.

stebbinsii (CNDDB 1992). Herbicide spraying potentially threatens a

significant portion of one occurrence of C. stebbinsii near Shingle

Springs and several local occurrences adjacent to roads (Tim Nosal,

pers. comm., 1993).

Herbicide spraying and trash dumping threaten one occurrence of

Ceanothus roderickii (CNDDB 1992). Habitat degradation from garbage

dumping on ridge-tops around Pine Hill degrades the habitat and is a

minor threat to Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens (James

Wilson, Sierra College, pers. comm., 1993).

As discussed under Factor A, habitat fragmentation may alter the

physical environment. Plant species will disappear from fragments that

are from 10 to 100 hectares in size due to persistent disturbance and

potentially due to change in fire frequency (Soule et al. 1992). In

addition, habitat fragmentation increases the risks of extinction due

to environmental, demographic, or genetic stochasticity. The small,

isolated nature of the remaining populations and the restricted

distribution of Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens and Galium

californicum ssp. sierrae make stochastic extinction more likely.

Chance events, such as local catastrophes, floods, disease outbreaks,

reproductive failure, extended droughts, landslides, or a combination

of several such events, could destroy part of a single population or

entire populations. A local catastrophe also could decrease a

population to so few individuals that the risk of extirpation due to

genetic and demographic problems associated with small populations

would increase.

Competition with invasive alien vegetation and shading from native

tree and shrub species potentially threaten Senecio layneae. Several

alien plant species, including Cytisus scoparius (Scotch broom), have

become established within the Traverse Creek Botanical Area in Eldorado

National Forest due to a variety of disturbances and potentially

threaten this occurrence of S. layneae (Duron 1990, Pollak 1990).

One occurrence of Senecio layneae is thought to have been

extirpated by road-side herbicide application (Oren Pollak, The Nature

Conservancy, pers. comm., 1993). This activity potentially threatens

several other occurrences of this species.

The Service has carefully assessed the best scientific and

commercial information available regarding the past, present, and

future threats faced by these species in determining to propose this

rule. Proposed residential and commercial development within the Pine

Hill intrusion, urbanization in western El Dorado County, which will be

induced by proposed dams on the South Fork of the American River, and

inadequate regulatory mechanisms threaten all five taxa throughout all

or a significant portion of their respective ranges. Road construction

and maintenance, grading, unauthorized dumping, excessive grazing

practices, herbicide spraying, off-road vehicle use, competition from

invasive alien vegetation, shading by native vegetation, irrigation,

and mining affect individual occurrences of the five taxa.

Calystegia stebbinsii, Ceanothus roderickii, Fremontodendron

californicum ssp. decumbens, and Galium californicum ssp. sierrae are

in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of

their ranges, and the preferred action is therefore to list them as

endangered. Because of its wider distribution, Senecio layneae is not

now in immediate danger of extinction throughout all or a significant

portion of its range; however, it is likely to become an endangered

species in the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant

portion of its range. Therefore, the preferred action is to list

Senecio layneae as threatened.

Critical Habitat

Section 4(a)(3) of the Act and implementing regulations (50 CFR

424.12) requires that, to the maximum extent prudent and determinable,

the Secretary determine critical habitat concurrently with determining

a species to be endangered or threatened. The Service finds that

designation of critical habitat is not presently prudent for these

species. Because the five plants face numerous human-caused threats

(see Factors A and E in ``Summary of Factors Affecting the Species'')

and the five occur predominantly on private land, the publication of

precise maps and descriptions of critical habitat in the Federal

Register would make these plants more vulnerable to incidents of

vandalism and, therefore, could contribute to the decline of these

species and increase enforcement problems. The listing of these species

as endangered and/or threatened also publicizes the rarity of these

plants and, thus, can make these plants attractive to researchers,

horticulturalists, or collectors of rare plants, as discussed under

Factor B.

Protection of the habitat of these species will be addressed

through the recovery process and the section 7 consultation process.

The Service believes that Federal involvement in the areas where these

plants occur can be identified without the designation of critical

habitat. Therefore, the Service finds that designation of critical

habitat for these plants is not prudent at this time because such

designation likely would increase the degree of threat from vandalism,

collecting, or other human activities.

Available Conservation Measures

Conservation measures provided to species listed as endangered or

threatened under the Act include recognition, recovery actions,

requirements for Federal protection, and prohibitions against certain

activities. Recognition through listing encourages and results in

conservation actions by Federal, State, and private agencies, groups,

and individuals. The Act provides for possible land acquisition and

cooperation with the State and requires that recovery actions be

carried out for all listed species. The protection required of Federal

agencies and the prohibitions against certain activities involving

listed plants are discussed, in part, below.

Section 7(a) of the Act requires Federal agencies to evaluate their

actions with respect to any species that is proposed or listed as

endangered or threatened and with respect to its critical habitat, if

any is being designated. Regulations implementing this interagency

cooperation provision of the Act are codified at 50 CFR part 402.

Section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires Federal agencies to confer with the

Service on any action that is likely to jeopardize the continued

existence of a proposed species or result in destruction or adverse

modification of proposed critical habitat. If a species is listed

subsequently, section 7(a)(2) requires Federal agencies to insure that

activities they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to

jeopardize the continued existence of such a species or to destroy or

adversely modify its critical habitat. If a Federal action may affect a

listed species or its critical habitat, the responsible Federal agency

must enter into formal consultation with the Service.

At least 80 percent of the occurrences for these five species are

privately owned. However, BLM manages land supporting populations of

all five plants, and Senecio layneae occurs on Federal land managed by

Forest Service. Both agencies would become involved with any or all of

these species as they are responsible for managing land use of areas

supporting these species.

The Veterans Administration and the U.S. Department of Housing and

Urban Development (Federal Home Administration loans) may become

involved with these species through their administration of Federal

mortgage programs. The construction and maintenance of roads and

highways by the Federal Highway Administration, the relicensing of

hydroelectric projects by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and

the contracting of surface waters for irrigation, industrial, or

municipal uses by the Bureau of Reclamation would necessitate

involvement with these species under the Act. Also, the Army Corps of

Engineers would become involved with these species through its

permitting authority under section 404 of the Clean Water Act. By

regulation, nationwide permits may not be issued where a federally

listed endangered or threatened species would be affected by a proposed

project without first completing formal consultation pursuant to

section 7 of the Act. The presence of a listed species would highlight

the national importance of these resources. Therefore, the Army Corps

of Engineers would be required to consult with the Service on any

proposed dam construction or any proposed permits for fill operations

that would adversely affect any of these plants.

The Act and its implementing regulations found at 50 CFR 17.61,

17.62, and 17.63 for endangered plant species and 17.71 and 17.72 for

threatened plant species set forth a series of general prohibitions and

exceptions that apply to all endangered or threatened plants. With

respect to the five gabbro plants from El Dorado, Nevada, or Tuolumne

Counties, California, all trade prohibitions of section 9(a)(2) of the

Act, implemented by 50 CFR 17.61 or 17.71, would apply. These

prohibitions, in part, would make it illegal for any person subject to

the jurisdiction of the United States to import or export; deliver,

receive, carry, transport or ship in interstate or foreign commerce in

the course of a commercial activity; sell or offer for sale these

species in interstate or foreign commerce; or remove and reduce to

possession federally listed plant species from areas under Federal

jurisdiction; maliciously damage or destroy any such species on any

area under Federal jurisdiction; or remove, cut, dig up, damage, or

destroy any such plant species on any other area in knowing violation

of any State law or regulation or in the course of any violation of a

State criminal trespass law. Seeds from cultivated specimens of

threatened plant taxa are exempt from these prohibitions provided that

a statement ``of cultivated origin'' appears on the containers. Certain

exceptions apply to agents of the Service and State conservation

agencies. The Act and 50 CFR 17.62, 17.63, and 17.72 also provide for

the issuance of permits to carry out otherwise prohibited activities

involving endangered or threatened plant species under certain

circumstances. The Service anticipates few trade permits would ever be

sought or issued for the five species because the plants are not common

in cultivation or in the wild. Requests for copies of the regulations

on listed plants and inquiries regarding them may be addressed to the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Permits, 911 N.E.

11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4181 (telephone 503/231-6241,

facsimile 503/231-6243).

Public Comments Solicited

The Service intends that any final action resulting from this

proposal will be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore,

comments or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental

agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested

party concerning this proposed rule are hereby solicited. Comments

particularly are sought concerning:

(1) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning

any threat (or lack thereof) to Calystegia stebbinsii, Ceanothus

roderickii, Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens, Galium

californicum ssp. sierrae, or Senecio layneae;

(2) The location of any additional populations of these species and

the reasons why any habitat should or should not be determined to be

critical habitat as provided by section 4 of the Act;

(3) Additional information concerning the range, distribution, and

population size of these species; and

(4) Current or planned activities in the subject area and their

possible impacts on these species.

Any final decision on this proposal will take into consideration

the comments and any additional information received by the Service,

and such communications may lead to a final regulation that differs

from this proposal.

The Act provides for a public hearing on this proposal, if

requested. Requests must be received within 45 days of the date of

publication of this proposal. Such requests must be made in writing and

addressed to the Field Supervisor of the Sacramento Field Office (see

ADDRESSES section).

National Environmental Policy Act

The Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that an Environmental

Assessment, as defined under the authority of the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, need not be prepared in connection

with regulations adopted pursuant to section 4(a) of the Act. A notice

outlining the Service's reasons for this determination was published in

the Federal Register on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244).

References Cited

A complete list of all references cited herein is available upon

request from the Field Supervisor, Sacramento Field Office (see

ADDRESSES section).

Author

The primary author of this proposed rule is Kirsten Tarp,

Sacramento Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements, and Transportation.

Proposed Regulations Promulgation

Accordingly, the Service hereby proposes to amend part 17,

subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations,

as set forth below:

PART 17--[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C.

4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500, unless otherwise noted.

2. Section 17.12(h) is amended by adding the following, in

alphabetical order under the families indicated, and by adding a new

family ``Sterculiaceae--Cacao family,'' in alphabetical order, to the

List of Endangered and Threatened Plants to read as follows:

Sec. 17.12 Endangered and threatened plants.

* * * * *

(h) * * *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Species

--------------------------------------------------------------- Historic range Status When listed Critical habitat Special rules

Scientific name Common name

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * * * *

Asteraceae--Aster family:

* * * * * * *

Senecio layneae........... Layne's butterweed............ U.S.A (CA) T NA NA NA

* * * * * * *

Convolvulaceae--Morning-glory

family:

* * * * * * *

Calystegia stebbinsii..... Stebbins' morning-glory....... U.S.A. (CA) E NA NA NA

* * * * * * *

Rhamnaceae--Buckthorn family:

* * * * * * *

Ceanothus roderickii...... Pine Hill ceanothus........... U.S.A. (CA) E NA NA NA

* * * * * * *

Rubiaceae--Coffee family:

* * * * * * *

Galium californicum....... El Dorado bedstraw............ U.S.A. (CA) E NA NA NA

ssp. sierrae..........

* * * * * * *

Sterculiaceae--Cacao family:

Fremontodendron Pine Hill flannelbush......... U.S.A. (CA) E NA NA NA

californicum.

ssp. decumbens........

* * * * * * *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dated: April 4, 1994.

Mollie H. Beattie,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 94-9495 Filed 4-19-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P