California dissanthelium
Encyclopedia
Dissanthelium californicum (California dissanthelium, Catalina grass) is a rare species of grass
. It was originally discovered on Santa Catalina
, an island off California
's coast in 1847 by U.S. botanist and naturalist
William Gambel
. It was later identified on Guadalupe Island
(off Baja California Peninsula
), and on San Clemente Island
and Catalina Island
(both off southern California
).
Last seen in 1912, it was generally thought to be extinct, until living examples were found on March 29, 2005 by Jenny McCune of the Catalina Island Conservancy
on Catalina Island . In 2010, two populations were found on San Clemente Island. It has not reappeared on Guadalupe Island.
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
. It was originally discovered on Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina may refer to:*Argentina**Santa Catalina, Jujuy**Santa Catalina, Córdoba**Santa Catalina, Santiago del Estero*Colombia**Santa Catalina, Colombia**Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina*Dominican Republic...
, an island off California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's coast in 1847 by U.S. botanist and naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
William Gambel
William Gambel
William Gambel was an American naturalist and collector.Gambel was born in Philadelphia. In 1838 he travelled with the naturalist Thomas Nuttall on a collecting trip to North Carolina. In March 1841 he set off alone to collect plants for Nuttall. He travelled west, taking a more southerly route to...
. It was later identified on Guadalupe Island
Guadalupe Island
Guadalupe Island, or Isla Guadalupe is a volcanic island located 241 kilometers off the west coast of Mexico's Baja California peninsula and some 400 kilometers southwest of the city of Ensenada in Baja California state, in the Pacific Ocean...
(off Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
), and on San Clemente Island
San Clemente Island
San Clemente Island is the southernmost of the Channel Islands of California. It is owned and operated by the United States Navy, and is a part of Los Angeles County. Defined by the United States Census Bureau as Block Group 2 of Census Tract 5991 of Los Angeles County, California, it is long and...
and Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is long and across at its greatest width. The island is located about south-southwest of Los Angeles, California. The highest point on the island is...
(both off southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
).
Last seen in 1912, it was generally thought to be extinct, until living examples were found on March 29, 2005 by Jenny McCune of the Catalina Island Conservancy
Catalina Island Conservancy
The Catalina Island Conservancy is a nonprofit organization established to protect and conserve Santa Catalina Island, California. CIC was established in 1972 through the efforts of the Wrigley and Offield families...
on Catalina Island . In 2010, two populations were found on San Clemente Island. It has not reappeared on Guadalupe Island.