Malacothamnus clementinus

San Clemente Island Bush-mallow

FWS Focus

Overview

Characteristics
Overview

The San Clemente Island bush-mallow is a rounded shrub in the mallow family (Malvaceae). It was initially listed as endangered in 1977 as threats to the species included habitat destruction by feral livestock and the resulting soil-erosion. Due to the removal of nonnative herbivores and the Navy’s development of an Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan to implement erosion and fire control measures, the species recovered to the point where it was delisted in 2023.

Scientific Name

Malacothamnus clementinus
Common Name
San Clemente Island bush-mallow
San Clemente Island bushmallow
FWS Category
Flowering Plants
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Characteristics

Characteristic category

Physical Characteristics

Characteristics
Color & Pattern

Its flowers have pink, white and fading lavender petals.

Size & Shape

It is 2 to 3 feet tall with numerous hairy branched stems arising from the base of the plant.

Characteristic category

Habitat

Characteristics
Habitat

It is found at the base of escarpments between coastal terraces within maritime cactus scrub, on low canyon benches and in rocky grasslands.

Characteristic category

Life Cycle

Characteristics
Life Cycle

It flowers typically from March to August.

Geography

Characteristics
Range

It is endemic to San Clemente Island in Los Angeles County, California. Most of the known locations occur throughout the southwestern region of the island.

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