Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii
California marina
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii (California marina) is a native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive small size < 2 dm and crowded leaflets.
California marina is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the eastern Peninsular Ranges in the Santa Rosa Mountains on rocky slopes at elevations of 1,050 to 1,150 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces small flowers with distinctive glandular features. Growing less than 20 centimeters tall with a strigose, generally gray appearance, it forms a compact, low-growing habit. Its leaves are densely packed with 11 to 15 crowded leaflets, each 2 to 5 millimeters long, oblanceolate to obovate in shape and characteristically folded with a large glandular tip. The compact inflorescence reaches 1 to 2 centimeters in length, with a flower keel measuring 5 to 5.5 millimeters.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive small size < 2 dm and crowded leaflets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes
Elevation: 1050-1150 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii blooms May-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Psorothamnus: Marina sprawls flat on ground; Psorothamnus stands upright as a shrub.; vs Dalea: Marina stems lack glands (smooth when rubbed); Dalea stems have sticky gland-dots.; vs Glycyrrhiza: Marina has tiny narrow leaflets; Glycyrrhiza has broad leaflets 6-10mm wide.; vs Ornithopus: Marina pods stay intact; Ornithopus pods break into bead-like segments.; vs Oxytropis: Marina flowers in 1cm dense spikes; Oxytropis in loose clusters with beaked keel.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii native to California?
Yes. Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii bloom?
Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii blooms May-Oct.
What plant family does Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii belong to?
Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Marina.
Is Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii rare or endangered?
Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2?.
What habitat does Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii grow in?
Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii grows in Rocky slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.