Rare foothill mint known from two surviving sites gets endangered-species protection during state review

A rare annual plant in the mint family that survives at only two known sites in the Sierra Nevada foothills now has the same legal protection as an endangered species while California decides whether to list it, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Nov. 4.

The plant, veiny monardella, grows in grasslands and oak woodlands on clay or clay-rich soils. It is known from four documented occurrences, and two of them have been wiped out, according to the department. At the two remaining sites, surveyors estimated about 2,500 plants at one in 1998 and nearly 500,000 at the other in 2023.

The department said population trends may be declining and listed agricultural conversion, development, climate change and invasive species as potential threats.

Dr. John C. Hunter petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission on Aug. 25, 2025, to list veiny monardella as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act. The commission voted unanimously on Oct. 13 to make the plant a candidate for listing, the California Farm Bureau Federation reported, and the commission published its findings on Oct. 30. As a candidate, the plant is protected while the state reviews its status.

The petition puts the plant's range at about 1,767 square miles in Butte, Sutter, Tuolumne and Yuba counties, at elevations from roughly 195 to 1,345 feet. The Farm Bureau told its members that both known surviving populations are on private property and urged landowners who find the plant to avoid disturbing it, document what they see and contact their local CDFW regional office about whether nearby farm work needs precautions or authorization.

CDFW has 12 months from Oct. 30 to finish a status review that will inform the commission's final decision. The department is seeking information on the plant's ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat and threats, as well as how well existing management protects it.

The department asked that data and comments be submitted before Feb. 5, 2027. Comments can be emailed to CDFW's Native Plant Program at NativePlants@wildlife.ca.gov with "veiny monardella" in the subject line, or mailed to California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Native Plant Program, Attn: Kristi Lazar, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090. Anyone with occurrence records can submit them to the California Natural Diversity Database at CNDDB@wildlife.ca.gov. The department noted that anything submitted, including contact information, becomes part of the public record.

CDFW will produce a peer-reviewed report recommending whether listing is warranted and post it on its website for at least 30 days before the commission considers the petition. The commission, which is separate from the department, makes the final listing decision.

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