[3] Widely known and utilized by the indigenous peoples of the Americas for centuries, this species was first discovered and introduced to Western science by Thomas Nuttall, on his trip to San Diego.

Today, this species is listed as imperiled,[1] as some of its habitats are threatened by coastal development, urbanization, military operations and fire suppression.

[4] It has also found its way into horticultural circles in its native regions, providing gardeners with a low-maintenance shrub that gives off rewarding flowers.

[5] Despite attractive qualities like its distinctive fragrance and flowers, this species may cause blistering and burning rashes to people after contact with its foliage, a phenomenon common with members of the citrus family, known as phytophotodermatitis.

[3] This evergreen, intricately branched shrub may exceed a meter and a half in height and sprawl about as wide, with a rounded form.

[3][6] Numerous chemicals have been isolated from this plant, including osthol, imperatorin, isoimperatorin, bergapten, isopimpinellin, xanthotoxin, justicidin A and marmesin.

Nuttall was one of few naturalists to set foot in the region at the time, being preceded by Menzies, Botta, Coulter, and Deppe, all of whom had only stopped in San Diego briefly.

[11] Nuttall likely encountered this species on Point Loma, as he spent extensive time on the peninsula (for it was the original anchorage in San Diego Bay)[12] and it is home to an abundant population of this plant.

[14] Botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker later combined this species into Cneoridium dumosum,[15] but he produced a nomen invalidum (invalid name) as he failed to specify the rank.

[16] Henri Ernest Baillon later corrected Hooker's mistake in 1873, with the fourth volume of his publication Histoire des Plantes, leading to the current name Cneoridium dumosum (Nutt.)

[25][24] Plants of this species primarily occur on bluffs, mesa, hillsides and washes near the coast, and the slightly inland foothills of the Peninsular Ranges.

[3] This plant is considered to play an important role in the habitat for the San Quintin Quail (Callipepla californica subsp.

[26] Introduced into cultivation by Theodore Payne,[13] this diminutive woody shrub has a reputation of being difficult to establish, but given proper care it is a long-lived, slow-growing plant that thrives on neglect.