Lilaeopsis masonii
Rare California endemic of delta and bay marshes.
Lilaeopsis masonii, known commonly as mudflat quillplant or Mason's lilaeopsis, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. It is endemic to California, found only in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and nearby shores of San Francisco Bay. The plant is notable for its rarity and restricted distribution, with about 80 populations in a single network of water bodies, though it is locally abundant in some areas such as Suisun Marsh.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Lilaeopsis
- Species
- masonii
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Lilaeopsis masonii is a small perennial herb that grows in small continuous tufts from spreading rhizomes. Its leaves are thready or hairlike, several centimeters high, and green in color. The inflorescence is a minute, threadlike umbel of tiny greenish white to maroon flowers, each yielding a spherical fruit about a millimeter wide. The plant is superficially grasslike in appearance.
Reader's Guide
Lilaeopsis masonii holds significance as a rare endemic species restricted to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and nearby San Francisco Bay shores. Its limited distribution to about 80 populations in a single water body network underscores its vulnerability. The plant is a common bayside species in Suisun Marsh, but faces numerous threats including erosion, flood control activities such as levee maintenance and dredging, habitat loss to development, agriculture, recreation, pollution, and competition from invasive water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). Its presence in freshwater and brackish marshes highlights its adaptation to estuary environments. The species' small, grasslike form and minute flowers and fruits contribute to its inconspicuous nature, yet its localized abundance in certain areas indicates it can thrive where conditions are favorable. Conservation efforts are implied by the listing of threats, but no specific measures are described in the source.
Did You Know?
- It is a plant of freshwater and brackish marshes and other estuary habitat.
- The plant is threatened by competition with water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes).
- Its fruit is spherical and about a millimeter wide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lilaeopsis masonii?
Lilaeopsis masonii is a small flowering plant in the Apiaceae family, commonly called mudflat quillplant or Mason's lilaeopsis. It is a California-exclusive species that grows in tidal wetlands along the state's coast.
Where does Lilaeopsis masonii naturally occur?
The species is restricted to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and the marshes bordering San Francisco Bay, with roughly 80 known populations spread across that single water network. It can be locally plentiful in spots like Suisun Marsh, yet it exists nowhere else on the planet.
Is Lilaeopsis masonii considered rare?
Yes—it is a geographically limited endemic, meaning every individual in the world lives within one delta-and-bay system in California. Its narrow range makes it vulnerable to habitat loss, even where local populations are dense.
What kind of habitat does Lilaeopsis masonii require?
It grows in freshwater to brackish tidal marshes and estuary mudflats where river water mixes with ocean water. The plant is adapted to the shifting salinity and periodic flooding typical of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay shores.
Can Lilaeopsis masonii be kept in a freshwater aquarium?
Because it is a wild California endemic tied to specific tidal and brackish conditions, it is not a species typically available or suited to standard planted tanks. Its restricted range and conservation sensitivity also make wild collection both impractical and legally problematic for hobbyists.
More in Aquarium and Aquatic Plants, Part 2 1-24
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