California's serpentinite flora is well known worldwide in this regard, and it contains both common and rare species, including 300 taxa in this Inventory. Familiar serpentinite rarities include Calochortus tiburonensis, Streptanthus morrisonii, and Hesperolinon, a genus composed almost exclusively of rare serpentinite endemics. Indeed, conservationist biologists have established that, all else being equal, rare species are more susceptible to the risk of extinction than widespread taxa. Having said this, however, it is still vitally important for California's botanists to seek an understanding of the biology of our rare species, to know the genesis of their rarity, and to understand the current threats to rare species' persistence. Armed with such knowledge, rare plant taxa in California and elsewhere can be more appropriately managed with much better chances for long term survival.
Much work lies ahead for botanists in California.
Peggy L. Fiedler is Professor in the Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 91432. Literature Cited Darwin, C. 1859. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. John Murray, London. Drury, W.H. 1974.