A rare plant only found in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties is now being proposed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to list the San Fernando Valley Spineflower as threatened. The Service conducted extensive studies of the plant which determined that it is in danger of becoming extinct.
It’s a low-growing plant in the buckwheat family that grows up to 12 inches in height and 2-6 inches across, with small white flowers during springtime. The spineflower was actually thought to be extinct for decades, but was rediscovered in Ventura County in 1999, and Los Angeles County in 2000.
In Ventura County, they are only found on protected lands, on the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. Steps are being taken to try to protect the surviving population.
