Flora of North America species comparison

Most extant populations of Horkelia cuneata are referable to var. cuneata or intermediates between it and the other two varieties, with the greatest concentrations around Monterey Bay and from Morro Bay to Santa Barbara. At its most distinctive, var. cuneata occurs from Santa Cruz to Los Angeles counties, often sharing habitat with var. sericea though also occurring somewhat more inland, but not as far inland as var. puberula. Although not as endangered as the extremes, unequivocal var. cuneata is far from abundant and shares some of the same threats to its prime coastal habitat.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Of conservation concern.

Historic populations of var. sericea occurred along the immediate coast from Alameda and Marin counties south at least to Santa Barbara County, with some littoral collections of Horkelia cuneata from Los Angeles and San Diego counties having some sericea characteristics. Reports from farther north are all based on misidentifications, for example, of H. californica in Sonoma County. The most distinctive specimens are from the northern populations in Alameda, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties, all of which apparently no longer exist. Of the recently confirmed extant populations, those that come closest to justifying continued recognition of var. sericea are in Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz counties.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)