Plant
Deerweed
Acmispon glaberAlso known as California Deerweed
Deerweed is a many-branched California subshrub whose small pea flowers change from yellow to orange or reddish after pollination. It rapidly occupies open chaparral and recently burned ground, enriching soil through nitrogen-fixing root bacteria.
pioneer shrubcolor-changing flowersnitrogen fixer
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPhotosynthesis supplemented by nitrogen fixed through symbiotic root bacteria in dry nutrient-poor soil
Predators
- deer
- rabbits
- seed-feeding insects
ThreatsUrban development, invasive grasses, repeated short-interval fire, herbicides, and loss of native pollinators
HabitatsChaparral, coastal sage scrub, sandy slopes, road cuts, burns, and other sunny disturbed sites
Life spanUsually a short-lived perennial lasting several years, with abundant seed renewing disturbed populations
Classification
- FamilyFabaceae
- SpeciesAcmispon glaber
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
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- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Avoid trampling stems or collecting seed because the shrub supports recovering soils and specialist insects.
Responsible observation
- Notice: Compare fresh yellow flowers with older orange-red flowers along the same slender stem.
- Restore: Leave plants and leaf litter intact on burns and eroding slopes where roots stabilize soil.
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