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Literature Review

Orocopia Sage

Salvia greatae

USFWS: No official status
CDFG: Special Plant, California Species of Special Concern

Background

Distribution, Abundance and Trends. The Orocopia sage is endemic to the Orocopia Mountains, Mecca Hills, and Chocolate Mountains in the eastern part of the Plan area. Orocopia sage occurs in a longitudinal west to east range of approximately 30 miles. This species has also been reported by BLM from the north side of the Chuckwalla Mountains, outside the Plan area. This location, south of Desert Center, was visited in 1986 but the presence of Orocopia sage was not confirmed (Barrows 1986).

The preferred habitat of Orocopia sage is in gravelly or rocky soils on broad bajadas or fans, often adjacent to desert washes, or on the rocky slopes of canyons. It may occur on alluvial terraces and sandy or rocky benches elevated above the flood plain of a wash, as the in Salt Creek Wash along the Bradshaw Trail. The species does not appear to occur within the immediate wash zone. This species has been recorded up to 2800 feet in the Orocopia Mountains. Although thorough surveys have not been completed, it has only been observed on the south-facing slopes of the Orocopia Mountains. Surveys completed several years ago in the Chocolate Mountains Aerial Gunnery Range (CMAGR) indicate it is fairly common in these mountains, which are outside the CVMSHCP boundary. A report of Orocopia sage from limestone outcrops in the Marble Mountains of San Bernardino County near Cadiz is considered questionable and has not been confirmed since it was reported 20 years ago; a search for this species at this location was made but no plants were found (Barrows 1986). Information on population size and density of Orocopia sage is not available. Observations at known locations of the species by Barrows (1986) were reported as ranging from 50 plants to 1000 or more plants.

Though Orocopia sage is patchy in its distribution, where it occurs it is typically one of the dominant members of the vegetation. Plants may be three to four feet tall and usually form dense, rounded clumps, sometimes as large as four or five feet in diameter. Multiple branching from near ground level results in a very bushy habit. This species is associated with desert dry wash woodland and Sonoran creosote bush scrub.

Little is known of the life history and ecology of Orocopia sage. Its remarkable ability to withstand long periods of drought was noted by Jaeger (1941). During drought periods it may lose nearly all its leaves. In dry years this plant may be virtually dormant, forming only a few new shoots and perhaps no flowers (Clary, in Jepson 1943), whereas in wet year the plants may bloom by early April. Orocopia sage is reportedly pollinated by bees (Jones 1995).

Threats and Limiting Factors. Threats to this species are few in that its habitat is largely protected within the Mecca Hills, Orocopia Mountains, and Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness Areas, established by the 1994 Desert Protection Act. There may be some threat from illegal off-highway vehicle activity, for example along the Bradshaw Trail where lands on either side of this road were excluded from the wilderness areas. Fortunately, Orocopia sage populations are typically on rocky slopes or alluvial fans and are either inaccessible to vehicle traffic or are some distance from major roads. Barrows (1986) reported that no evidence of OHV impacts within Orocopia sage populations was observed along the Bradshaw Trail. Plants within the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range are essentially protected by the fact that the area is off-limits to the public and bombing does not occur along the perimeter of the range, where Orocopia sage occurs, because of its close proximity to recreational use areas.

Special Considerations. Conserved populations should be protected from illegal off-road vehicle activity, mining activities, and other activities that may impact the habitat.