The department shall establish criteria for determining if a species, subspecies, or variety of native plant is endangered or rare. As used in this chapter, “native plant” means a plant growing in a wild uncultivated state which is normally found native to the plantlife of this state. A species, subspecies, or variety is endangered when its prospects of survival and reproduction are in immediate jeopardy from one or more causes. A species, subspecies, or variety is rare when, although not presently threatened with extinction, it is in such small numbers throughout its range that it may become endangered if its present environment worsens.

(Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 1181.)